Settled Land Act 1958

^[13]Save as hereinafter provided, every lease—

shall be by deed, and be made to take effect in possession not later than twelve months after its date, or in reversion after an existing lease having not more than three years to run at the date of the new lease;

shall reserve the best rent that can reasonably be obtained, regard being had to any fine taken, and to any money laid out or to be paid out for the benefit of the settled land, and generally to the circumstances of the case;

shall contain a covenant by the lessee for payment of the rent, and a condition of re-entry on the rent not being paid within a time therein specified not exceeding thirty days.

A counterpart of every lease shall be executed by the lessee and delivered to the tenant for life or statutory owner of which execution and delivery the execution of the lease by the tenant for life or statutory owner shall be sufficient evidence.

A statement contained in a lease or in an indorsement thereon, signed by the tenant for life or statutory owner respecting any matter of fact or of calculation under this Act in relation to the lease, shall, in favour of the lessee and those claiming under him, be sufficient evidence of the matter stated.

A fine received on the grant of a lease under any power conferred by this Act shall be deemed to be capital money arising under this Act.

A lease at the best rent that can be reasonably obtained without fine, and whereby the lessee is not exempted from punishment for waste, may be made—

where the term does not exceed twenty-one years—

^[14]without any notice of an intention to make the lease having been given under this Act; and

without the consent of the trustees or order of the Court; and

notwithstanding that there are no trustees of the settlement; and

^[15]where the term does not extend beyond three years from the date of the writing, by any writing under hand only containing an agreement instead of a covenant by the lessee for payment of rent.