Marjorie Batten

Biography

Marjorie is an associate in the property disputes team acting for both residential and commercial landlord and tenant clients, as well as local authorities and registered providers of social housing, in relation to a range of property matters, including breach of covenant and forfeiture, service charge recovery and disputes, contentious lease renewals, leasehold enfranchisement and the right of first refusal.

Marjorie also advises developers and other land owners in relation to issues affecting development land, including the enforcement and modification/discharge of restrictive covenants, trespass, adverse possession, rights acquired by prescription and the statutory regimes governing the creation and termination of wayleaves.

Marjorie is often instructed by leaseholders with high value prime central London property interests and is experienced in dealing with lease extension claims against the large London estates.

Marjorie is increasingly instructed in relation to matters concerning the Building Safety Act 2022 and associated regulations, including the preparation and service of landlord certificates.

Marjorie is a member of the Property Litigation Association. She is described as a ‘rising star’ with ‘an impressive depth of knowledge and exceptional client care skills’ (Legal 500).

Relevant experience

Local Authority: acting for a local authority landlord in relation to a bulk statutory lease extension claim involving 37 leaseholders, 4 intermediate landlords and a complex title structure.
Local Authority: acting for a local authority landlord in successfully defending a challenge to the cost of major works in the FTT, where the overall cost of the works exceeded £1 million.
Statutory Undertaker Landlord: acting in relation to a contentious collective enfranchisement claim and successfully ensuring the client's asset, which remained located within the property, was sufficiently protected.
Local Authority: acting in relation to a judicial review of a decision of the Valuation Office Agency based on the construction of regulation 128A of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 in conjunction with the Planning Team.
Private Individuals: successfully obtaining summary judgment in the High Court confirming rescission of contract and forfeiture of the deposit against a purchaser referred to by the press as ‘the house buyer from hell,’ who failed to complete in breach of contract.
Local Authority: advising in relation to the provision of temporary accommodation pursuant to section 188 of the Housing Act 1996, including advice on the terms of the agreement and the procedure for recovering possession.