Defective premises – disrepair – negligence – landlord’s obligations – Defective Premises Act – duties of care


Dodd v Raebarn Estates Ltd and others [2017] EWCA Civ 439 (21 June 2017)


Readers may recall the first instance decision highlighted in our October 2016 edition, Commercial Leases Vol 30, Issue 8 at p2344. Sadly, a visitor to the premises fell down a steep staircase within the common parts and suffered serious head injuries from which he later died. His widow brought a claim for damages. It was alleged that the steepness of the staircase, the absence of a handrail and the variations in the height of some treads amounted to a breach of the building regulations in force at the time when redevelopment works were carried out.