Leases and Licenses

Question 1

Street v Mountford Facts and held?

Answer 1

Facts: Roger Street granted Wendy Mountford exclusive occupation of rooms for £37/week under an agreement labelled a “licence.” The agreement sought to exclude protections under the Rent Act 1977, allowing termination with 14 days’ notice.

Held: The House of Lords ruled that the agreement was a lease, not a licence, as it granted exclusive possession, for a term, at a rent.

The label “licence” was irrelevant. Lord Templeman emphasized substance over form, asserting that a genuine licence lacks exclusive possession.