Central London Property Trust Ltd v High Trees House Ltd

E590296

Central London Property Trust Ltd v High Trees House Ltd is a landmark 1947 English contract law case in which Lord Denning articulated the modern doctrine of promissory estoppel.

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf English contract law case
landmark case
promissory estoppel case
alsoKnownAs High Trees case NERFINISHED
areaOfLaw contract law
equity
citation [1947] KB 130
considerationRuleInteraction shows equitable limitation on strict consideration doctrine
country United Kingdom
court King's Bench Division NERFINISHED
courtLevel first instance
effectOnRights prevents enforcement of full legal rights where inequitable to do so
estoppelType promissory estoppel
factsSummary Landlord agreed to reduce rent during wartime conditions and later sought to recover full rent for the wartime period
frequentlyCitedIn cases on promissory estoppel
textbooks on contract law
geographicLocationOfProperty London NERFINISHED
holdingSummary A clear promise intended to be binding, intended to be acted on, and in fact acted on, is binding so far as its terms properly apply
influenced development of promissory estoppel in English law
involvedParty Central London Property Trust Ltd NERFINISHED
High Trees House Ltd NERFINISHED
judge Lord Denning NERFINISHED
jurisdiction England and Wales
keyConcept equitable estoppel
reliance on a promise
suspension of strict legal rights
language English
leadingOpinionBy Denning J NERFINISHED
legalDoctrineArticulated promissory estoppel
legalSignificance Foundational authority for modern English doctrine of promissory estoppel
Illustrates that promissory estoppel operates as a shield not a sword
legalSystem common law
principleEstablished A promisor may be estopped from going back on a promise intended to be binding and relied upon, even without consideration
promissoryEstoppelRequirement actual reliance by promisee
clear and unequivocal promise
inequity in allowing promisor to resile
intention that promise be acted upon
reporter King's Bench reports NERFINISHED
subjectMatter lease of a block of flats
subsequentRentClaim landlord allowed to claim full rent after wartime conditions ended
timePeriodOfFacts Second World War NERFINISHED
topic enforceability of gratuitous promises
equitable remedies in contract law
variation of contractual obligations
yearDecided 1947

Referenced by (1)

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Lord Denning notableWork Central London Property Trust Ltd v High Trees House Ltd