The Building Safety Act Blind Spot: Essendi Hotels v London Property Group
In this episode of Unpacking the Case, Richard and Lizzie discuss Essendi Hotels UK 2 Limited v London Property Group, a High Court decision examining responsibility for unsafe cladding in a commercial lease.
The case concerns a budget hotel near Wembley that was forced to shut its doors after combustible cladding, similar to that involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy, created serious fire safety concerns. With the Building Safety Act offering no protection because the property was a hotel rather than residential accommodation, the dispute turned on a fundamental question of landlord and tenant law: who was responsible for putting the problem right?
Whether you advise on hotels, offices, retail or mixed-use developments, this episode highlights why careful drafting of repair and compliance provisions has never been more important.
Relevant cases:
Credit Suisse v Beegas Nominees Ltd [1994]
Welsh v Greenwich London Borough Council (2000)
THE LEADING UK REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM
We are the UK’s largest and most experienced specialist real estate law firm, trusted by leading clients in the property sector for over 25 years.
With over 75+ senior lawyers, each bringing an average of 25 years’ post-qualification experience from top-tier private practice and in-house roles, we offer unparalleled expertise across the full range of real estate legal services — including commercial property, planning, construction, environment, real estate finance, property litigation, and more.
Our exclusive focus on real estate law uniquely positions us to support fellow professional services firms through our Real Estate Support solution. We deliver specialist legal expertise to the UK Top 30, silver circle firms, US Top 50, and the Big Four.
Whether you’re a developer, investor, occupier, institution, or advisor, we provide clear, commercial, and responsive legal advice — helping you to get the job done.