The UK Treasury and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have been drip-feeding the industry rules and practical details of the transfer of consumer credit (CC) regulation to FCA. FCA has now published the final form of its detailed rules in its Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC), with feedback and practical advice. The rules apply from 1 April 2014 with limited grace periods only. It is critical that all firms carrying on credit-related regulated activities know what the changes mean for them.

The recent Court of Appeal decision in the Game Station case has established that administrators should pay rent on a daily basis while they are using the property. This overturns the earlier High Court decisions in the Luminar and Goldacre cases and is in keeping with the recent trend of flexibility and fairness in insolvency situations.

Leasehold property in an administration

Bristol Alliance Nominee No 1 Ltd v Bennett [2013] EWCA Civ 1626; [2013]PLSCS 316 (A/Wear UK Limited)

Background

The case relates to the insolvency of a women’s fashion retailer and their shops in Bristol and Leicester.

The Court of Appeal has decided that rent accruing during a period of administration should be treated as an expense of the administration, irrespective of the date on which it falls due for payment. Administration expenses are paid by administrators in priority to liabilities owed to holders of security.

Following the Court of Appeal’s decision in Game it is necessary to consider the effect of the court’s decision on the treatment of rents in administration and by analogy liquidation – and the potential consequences of that change.

What types of insolvency does the decision affect?

The Court of Appeal’s decision explicitly states that it is applicable as to the treatment of rents in both administration and liquidation.

What about existing cases?

In Re Parmeko Holdings Limited the Court had to consider whether to give directions to Administrators where creditors had failed to vote on their proposals. The Court also considered the terms of Administrators’ standard proposals.

In Re Parmeko the proposals provided for the Administrators to:-

• Continue to manage the company’s business and affairs in accordance with the statutory purposes;
• Make payments to secured / preferential creditors;
• Seek one of various exit routes;

And for

18 December 2013

[2013] EWCA Civ 1626

Court of Appeal (Rimer, Kitchin, Christopher Clarke LJJ)

Whether landlords' rights to seek specific performance of an agreement to surrender leases survived an intervening insolvency

16 December 2013

[2013] EWHC 4287 (Comm)

Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division (Burton J)

Foreign trustee-in-bankruptcy personally liable for costs of restraining foreign insolvency proceedings, on an indemnity basis

The UK Court of Appeal has swept aside existing rules governing when administrators have to pay advance rents falling due before their appointment.

In what will be seen as a significant victory for landlords, the Court held on 24 February 2014 that it was not open for administrators to enjoy a rent free period simply because they were appointed just after a quarter day.  The decision will have major implications for the planning and implementation of corporate insolvencies and looks set to transform the relationship between insolvency practitioners and the property industry.

Landlords will be relieved that the Court of Appeal has closed a legal loophole in a test case arising out of the administration of the Game group of Companies – Pillar Denton Ltd & 5 others v (1) Jervis (2) Maddison (3) Game Retail Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 180.