Property Disputes in the UK Supreme Court : A 2025 Round-Up and a Look Ahead to 2026

Join Gary Pryce as he delivers the next webinar from our Property Practice.

Gary Pryce’s webinar that was set to take place on 18th February 2026 will now be taking place on 29th April 2026 with a refreshed view.

In this session Gary will be presenting a round-up of principal property litigation disputes decided in 2025 in the UK Supreme Court and important issues likely to be heard in 2026.

This webinar will consider: 

• Undue influence; secured non-commercial loans to joint borrowers in a intimate relationship; and when is a lender put on inquiry as to possible undue influence. One Savings Bank -v- Waller-Edwards [2025] UKSC 22
• Adverse possession; a squatter’s application for registration; and the timing of ten-year period of reasonable belief of ownership for the application. Brown -v- Ridley [2025] UKSC 7.
• Rights of access to common land; whether there is an effective right to wild camp at Dartmoor National Park; the UK Supreme Court approach to statutory interpretation. Darwall -v- Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20.
• Can a property developer make a claim against a designer for breach of statutory duty to build a dwelling properly under the Defective Premises Act 1972, section 1; where developer brings a contribution claim for breach of statutory duty to build a dwelling properly, is it necessary that its liability to pay has been established by judgment, admission or settlement; the effect of the amended limitation period under the Building Safety Act 2022, section 135. URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21.
• The UKSC may hear an appeal in 2026 on the interpretation and effect of subsection 53(1)(b) of the Law of Property Act 1925 (“the LPA 1925”), particularly: (1) whether an agent can provide signed writing for the purpose of subsection 53(1)(b); and (2) whether a company can provide signed writing for the purpose of subsection 53(1)(b) without executing a document or through the signature of an individual acting on behalf of a corporate attorney by the combined effect of subsections 74(3) & (4) of the LPA 1925; see National Iranian Oil Company -v- Crescent Gas Corporation Limited [2025] EWCA Civ 1211.

Gary Pryce is an experienced practitioner principally providing advisory, drafting and advocacy services in disputes concerning landlord and tenant law (commercial and residential property), real property law and other contentious Chancery disputes. Gary Pryce has acted for a wide range of different clients in the Business and Property Courts, specialist tribunals, the county court, arbitrations and several forms of non-court based dispute resolution, especially mediation. Gary Pryce has previously been shortlisted for the Legal 500 junior Property and Housing barrister of the year award.