Lace v Chantler

Facts

In 1940 a house was let 'for the duration of the war'. The landlord later served a notice to quit as if the tenancy were periodic. The tenant said the letting was a term that had not ended.

Issue

Is a tenancy 'for the duration of the war' a valid lease?

Held

No. At the start, nobody could say when the war would end. The term was uncertain, so there was no lease for that period.

Principle

The maximum duration of a lease must be certain when the lease is granted.

Why it matters

It is the certainty case. A periodic tenancy is different, because each week or month is certain.

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