Nicholas McKnight
Nick is a Legal Director in our Property Litigation Team.
Though he handles all manner of disputes concerning interests in land, Nick has particular expertise in residential landlord and tenant matters, dealing with disputes arising out of Assured Shorthold, Assured Non-Shorthold and Rent Act Regulated Tenancies, as well as other forms of short-term residential occupation such as HMOs and high-value rentals which exceed the financial threshold for the Assured regime. Nick has successfully brought proceedings for recovery of possession on the basis of Section 21, arrears, nuisance behaviour, unauthorised sub-letting and where the tenancy was obtained by misrepresentation in the first place, often having to deal with defences which raise issues such as disability discrimination, and counter-claims for housing disrepair.
Nick is also experienced in dealing with disputes arising out of residential long-leasehold matters, such as unlawful sub-letting/Airbnb usage, failure to allow access for repairs and unauthorised alterations, typically assisting landlords with actions for injunction and forfeiture. Nick also advises landlords on consultation requirements under S.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, applications for dispensation in relation to those requirements and duties under S.5 Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 concerning tenants’ rights of first refusal and claims for possession on the rare occasions where a lease expires.
In respect of commercial lettings, Nick assists landlords and tenants with lease renewals (both opposed and unopposed), exercise of break of options and terminal dilapidations. He assists landlords with lease forfeiture by way of peaceable re-entry or court proceedings, and in seeking to recover arrears through the courts or by way of the CRAR scheme.
Outside of landlord and tenant work, Nick assists landowners with the removal of trespassers, claims relating to Adverse Possession, creation of easements by prescription, interference with easements and disputes relating to boundaries.
Nick is aware of the pressure which can be felt by those who have to become involved in legal proceedings, and seeks to ensure that his clients are supported at all times throughout the disputes with which he assists, and that his advice remains commercially appropriate to the value of those disputes.
