Espir and Others v Basil Street Hotel Ltd     Landlord and Tenant – Lease – Covenant against alterations – Breach – Measure of damages
– Injury to reversion.
E was the tenant of part of certain premises under a lease for a term of 98 years, and he sublet
that part to B for the unexpired residue of that term less the last 15 days. E’s superior landlord
then let to B, for a term of 999 years, the whole of the premises, subject to E’s interest in the
part. B, in breach of a covenant in his sub-lease, made considerable structural alterations to
the whole of the premises, which B used for the purpose of running an hotel. E brought an
action against B for breach of the conditions in the sub-lease. The county court judge
awarded E £60 damages, which he assessed on the basis of the restoration work which would
have to be done to that part of the premises in which E had an interest, before E could let that
part to some other person. B appealed:—