Property & Real Estate Barristers
Piers Harrison
Year of call 1997
Instructing Piers
For further information or to instruct Piers please contact one of our following clerks:
Billy Forecast
Practice Managers
“Piers is excellent on his feet and is always able to effectively read a tribunal or court to obtain the best result for a client. He is exceptionally skilled at dealing with difficult parties.” “His written advice is always well considered, comprehensive and practical.” “He has an innovative and creative approach to enfranchisement issues.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Piers is highly skilled, and intellectual but very personable. He comes over excellently with the client. He is never dry or boring, whatever the subject matter. Piers’ other strength is his extremely sharp mind. He has a highly inquisitive and brilliant side to him born out of a natural academic sense of curiosity. That makes him ideal for creative, sound legal argument. He is excellent on his feet and on paper and his enthusiasm shines through. He is without doubt one of the leading minds in his area.”
Legal 500 2022
“He is very accessible and turns things around very quickly. He takes a punchy and proactive approach with a good commercial sense.”
Chambers UK 2021
“A master of the subject and one of the top barristers practicing in this field, both a thinker and a doer.”
Legal 500 2021
”He takes an innovative and creative approach to enfranchisement issues.” “He is great with clients and manages to explain complicated law in a manner that is understandable.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Exceptionally able, approachable and user-friendly.”
Legal 500 2020 (Property Litigation)
“Extremely bright and creative, demonstrating superior intellectual agility, particularly with regards to enfranchisements.”
Legal 500 2016
“An expert in the area of leasehold enfranchisement.”
Legal 500 2015
- Co-author: Megarry’s Manual of the Law of Real Property (Sweet & Maxwell, 9th edition)
- Co-author: Enfranchisement Law and Practice (Wildy and Sons Ltd)
- Co-author: Service Charges Management (Sweet & Maxwell, 3rd edition)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(6), 216-217 – Enlargement of long leases under section 153 of the Law of Property Act – a change in Land Registry practice
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(5), 165-166 – Where the law went wrong (Editorial)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(3), D19-D21Repair covenants; Tenants’ duties – Terminal dilapidations: measure of damages (Case Comment)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(3), D23-D24 – Possession of secure tenancies – ground 16 (under-occupation) (Case Comment)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(3), D24-D25 – Dispensing with consultation requirements (Case Comment)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(3), D26 – Variation of leases (Case Comment)
- L. & T. Review 2013, 17(2), D11stations – Enforceability of option against successor in title: whether Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 applies – Ridgewood Properties Group Ltd v Valeroenergy Ltd(Case Comment)
- E.G. 2012, 1208, 94-95 – Development value in collective enfranchisement claims: Part 2
- E.G. 2012, 1206, 88-89 – Development value in collective enfranchisement claims: Part 1
- L. & T. Review 2012, 16(1), 35-38 – Practitioner page (January/February)
- Conv. 2011, 5, 394-401Rights of first refusal; Sale of land – Multi-block developments and the right of first refusal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 – one notice or several?
- L. & T. Review 2011, 15(5), 167-169 – Increasing value limits in long leases – Government proposals on enfranchisement and security of tenure
- P.L.N. 2011, 3(5), 5 – Enforcing housing standards
- L. & T. Review 2010, 14(4), 147-149 – Leasehold enfranchisement and the low rent test (Legislative Comment)
- L. & T. Review 2009, 13(1), 17-19 – Landlord and tenant aspects of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008
- C.L.W. 1997, 5(38), 2a-2b – Security of tenure of subtenants under Rent Act 1997
- C.L.W. 1997, 5(25), 2a-2b – Validity of break notices
- BVC (Very competent), ICSL
- Diploma in Law, College of Law Chester
- BA Hons (History), Manchester University
- Chancery Bar Association
- Property Bar Association
“Extremely approachable, knowledgeable and quick on his feet.” Chambers and Partners 2018
“Extremely bright and creative, demonstrating superior intellectual agility” – Legal 500 2016.
Piers’s practice covers all areas of property law. He enjoys litigation. He is particularly experienced in leasehold enfranchisement. Piers is also often called upon to offer advice in non-contentious property cases where there is a development afoot.
Piers has a number of direct access clients, mainly property developers and is happy to accept direct instructions in most cases.
He is on the editorial board of Landlord and Tenant Review and PropertyLawUk and writes a periodic update on leasehold enfranchisement.
He is the co-author of “Megarry’s Manual of the Law of Real Property” (Sweet & Maxwell, 9th edition), “Enfranchisement Law and Practice” (Wildy and Sons Ltd) and Service Charges Management (Sweet & Maxwell, 3rd edition).
Notable Cases
- Judith Reiss v Ironhawk Ltd [2018] UKUT 311 (LC) Upper Tribunal case on the assessment of relativity outside PCL
- The Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond v 4-6 Trinity Church Square [2018] EWCA Civ 764 Court of Appeal decision in the case below upholding the decision of the Upper Tribunal. Piers acted for the successful nominee purchaser.
- 4-6 Trinity Church Square Freehold Ltd v The Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond [2016] UKUT 484 (LC) Upper Tribunal case on the sufficiency of rights offered in lieu of acquisition of appurtenant land in collective enfranchisement. Piers won in the Upper Tribunal, the other side have appealed to the Court of Appeal.
- Tedworth North Management Ltd & Anor v Miller & Ors [2016] UKUT 522 (LC) Upper Tribunal case on the recoverability of service charges in the context of wholesale renewal of windows in a modern block of flats in Tedworth Square.
- Natt v Osman [2015] 1 WLR 1536 Leading Court of Appeal case on the validity of notices. When considering the validiy of a notice actual prejudice in the case is irrelevant.
- Cutter & Others v PRY Ltd [2014] UKUT 215 (LC) Upper Tribunal decision on whether a nominee purchaser could aquire garden and car parking spaces on collective enfranchisement. Held he could not.
- H Waites Ltd v Hambledon Court Ltd [2014] EWHC 651 (Ch), [2014] 1 E.G.L.R. 119 High Court decision on several issues including whether a lease included the airspace above the existing building and the ground below; and whether a letting scheme was inimical to further development.
- Padmore v Barry & Peggy High Foundation [2013] UKUT 646 (LC) Collective enfranchisement; Consideration of development hope value and development marriage value.
- Ali v Natt (2013) CLCC Validity of s. 13 notice (appealed to CA hearing in Nov 2014).
- Kim v Chasewood Park Residents Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 239; [2013] H.L.R. 24; [2013] 2 P. & C.R. DG4 Court of Appeal decision concerning estoppel in the contest of an informal enfranchisement. Estoppel; Ground rent; Interpretation; Letters; Promissory estoppel; Reversionary leases; Tenants' associations.
- Arrowgame Ltd v Wildsmith [2012] EWHC 3315 (Ch); [2013] 1 W.L.R. 1051 Appeal to the High Court in relation to an acquisition orders sought under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. Also raising issues as to development hope value.
- Assethold Ltd v 15 Yonge Park RTM Co Ltd [2011] UKUT 379 (LC) Validity of RTM notice. Written representations.
- Bristol City Council v Aldford Two LLP [2011] UKUT 130 (LC) Upper Tribunal decision relating to hazares under the Housing Act 2004; Category 1 hazards; Hazard awareness notices; Heating; Housing conditions; Improvement notices.
- Bezkorowajny v Dawson [2010] EWLandRA 2010/1203 Decision of the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry in relation to adverse possession under the Limitation Act 1980.
- The Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond v 4-6 Trinity Church Square [2018] EWCA Civ 764 Court of Appeal decision in the case below upholding the decision of the Upper Tribunal. Piers acted for the successful nominee purchaser.
- Szepietowski v Director of the Assets Recovery Agency [2007] EWCA Civ 766; [2008] Lloyd's Rep. F.C. 10 Assets recovery; Civil recovery proceedings; Interim receiving orders; Limitations; Proceeds of crime.
- Director of the Assets Recovery Agency v Szepietowski [2006] EWHC 2406 (Admin) Assets recovery; Interim receiving orders; Civil recovery proceedings.
- Dillon v Hackney LBC [2004] EWHC 1882 (Ch) Adverse possession; Leases; Occupation; Possession claims; Title to land.