Author Archives | Sam Hopper

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Sam is a retail and commercial property and insolvency barrister at the Victorian Bar.

Validity of s 146 notices? Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd

June 14, 2011

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The notices served on the former RE/tenant in the Primary RE case stated that (omitting formalities and title particulars): 2.            The lease contains the following terms (among others): (a)         the Tenant will at all times during the term of the Lease establish, tend and manage the Plantation Crop (as defined) in a proper and skilful […]

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Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd & Ors – enforceability of maintenance obligations

June 13, 2011

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This post is the second in a series of posts discussing the judgment in Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd & Ors [2011] VSC 242. The main clause relied upon by the Receivers of the land owning companies in their s 146 notices was clause 6(b), which required the tenant to: … establish, […]

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Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd – are purported forestry rights in fact leases?

June 12, 2011

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Given the number of issues raised in the Primary RE case and the size of the judgmnent (114 pages!), I thought it would be useful for those following this blog to have a separate post on each issue in the judgment. The first and, perhaps, one of the less complicated issues considered in the Primary […]

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Judgment in Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd & Ors [2011] VSC 242

June 8, 2011

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Further to my post of 15 April 2011, judgment in the case of Primary RE Ltd v Great Southern Property Holdings Ltd & Ors [2011] VSC 242 was handed down today. A copy of the judgment is available here for those who are interested in reading it now. I will post a summary of the findings shortly.

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New version of Duncan’s Commercial Leases in Australia

June 7, 2011

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A new version of Duncan’s Commercial Leasing in Australia has just landed on my desk. This edition (the 6th) is a similar size to previous editions, which is relatively small when compared to other notable texts in this area. The new edition follows the same format as previous versions.  It contains a precedent clause under most […]

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Winding up managed investment schemes on the just and equitable ground

June 3, 2011

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The managed investment scheme Blue Diamond Deposits Trust Number 1 derived its income from interest payments on loans made out of the unit holders’ investments. Unit holders were to receive quarterly income distributions and above market returns, and they had the right to redeem their units with 60 days notice. The Liquidator of the responsible […]

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Assignment of lease after the exercise of an option

June 1, 2011

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An interesting issue came across my desk. A tenant had exercised an option to renew its lease but, for various reasons, a deed of renewal was never executed.  The tenant then purported to assign the lease.  The question arose as to whether a lease in those circumstances is capable of assignment. It seems to be […]

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Assignment without consent is not necessarily irremediable

June 1, 2011

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The last statement of the law in Victoria suggests that an assignment without seeking the landlord’s consent is a breach not capable of remedy (see IGA Distribution Pty Ltd v King & Taylor Pty Ltd [2002] VSC 440 at [143] per Nettle J, as he was then, citing Scala House and District Property Co Ltd v Forbes [1974] QB […]

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“Hotel” does not require accomodation

May 31, 2011

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Deputy President Macnamara at VCAT recently held that a permitted purpose in a lease provided as “hotel” was synonymous with “pub”, and that the term “hotel” in modern parlance does not necessarily mean the tenant must provide accommodation. This is useful for people settling leases of pubs and hotels. However, it does not address the […]

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Business records provided to assignee – s 60(1)(d) of the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic)

May 27, 2011

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Some people hold the view that a statement that accords with s. 52 of the Estate Agents Act 1980 (Vic) will be sufficient to satisfy s. 60(1)(d) of the RLA (section 60(1) is extracted in my earlier post today). However: the RLA does not define a “business record”; a s. 52 statement is a form […]

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