Facts
A council allegedly failed properly to inspect the foundations of a block of flats, which later developed cracks.
Issue
Did the council owe the flat owners a ?
Held
Yes, a duty was owed.
Principle
Lord Wilberforce's two-stage test: (1) sufficient proximity/foreseeability; (2) any policy reasons to negate or limit the duty.
Why it matters
Widened liability; later departed from and overruled by Murphy v Brentwood (1991).
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Anns v Merton London Borough Council [1978] AC 728 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/anns-v-merton> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.