The Lands Tribunal is a tribunal in the United Kingdom created by the Lands Tribunal Act 1949 that has jurisdiction in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, although in the Northern Ireland context the term Lands Tribunal normally refers to a different body the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland. The Lands Tribunal is unusual in that it has both first instance and appellate jurisdiction. The functions of the Lands Tribunal were transferred to the Upper Tribunal in June 2009.
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The Lands Tribunal was established to replace the panel of Official Arbitrators which had previously determined disputes as to compensation payable to the owners and occupiers of land affected by compulsory purchase. In addition, the Lands Tribunal acts as the appellate Tribunal for Rating Appeals from the Valuation Tribunals. It also has jurisdiction in relation to ordering the discharge or modification of restrictive covenants affecting land, under section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
A major further jurisdiction was conferred under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 which conferred upon the long leaseholders of lower value houses in England the right to acquire their freeholds, on terms laid out by statute. Disputes as to quantum were originally decided by the Lands Tribunal. In 1980 the original jurisdiction was transferred to the newly created Leasehold valuation tribunals with the Lands Tribunal becoming the appellate Tribunal on such disputes.
The Lands Tribunal also has a general appellate jurisdiction in relation to Decisions of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and Residential Property Tribunal.
The President of the Lands Tribunal must be a solicitor or barrister and the Members are either solicitors barristers or persons experienced in the valuation of land, which invariably means chartered surveyors.
Appeals from the Lands Tribunal are heard in the Court of Appeal.