Facts
A guest at a pub fell on a back staircase that had a short handrail and no bulb. The brewery owned the pub and the manager lived there.
Issue
Who is an occupier?
Held
Both the brewery and the manager were occupiers, but no breach was proved.
Principle
An occupier is anyone with a sufficient degree of control over premises. There can be more than one occupier at a time.
Why it matters
Defines 'occupier'.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Wheat v E Lacon & Co Ltd [1966] AC 552 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/wheat-v-lacon> accessed 31 October 2026
The accessed date is today's date. Check your course or publisher's style guide.
This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.