Thomas Djan-Krofa

Thomas advises on complex residential property disputes, including adverse possession, possession claims, service charge arrears, forfeiture, and tenancy surrenders, acting for landlords, tenants, estates, and trusts in high-value and sensitive matters. 

• Acted for an individual in respect of a complex adverse possession claim of a stretch of land behind his garden. The matter was heard at the First-tier Tribunal, and the client was awarded possessory title of the land as well as a costs order. 

• Acted for the beneficiaries of an estate in bringing disputed residential possession proceedings involving various hearings and a number of defendants in relation to residential flats in a London building with a combined value of £1.5m. 

• Successfully forfeited a residential long lease on behalf of a freeholder against a tenant of a flat for substantial service charge arrears. 

• Obtained possession against an unauthorised occupier who refused to vacate a property owned by the trust set up for the benefit of a vulnerable individual with health challenges 

• Successfully negotiated the surrender of a common law tenancy on behalf of a tenant in occupation of a £12m residential property in prime central London. 

• Thomas regularly advises on and presents seminars on residential property disputes court procedures and changes in legislation. 

Thomas advises housing associations and charities on tenancy, management and possession disputes, regularly securing injunctions in serious anti-social behaviour cases and advising on innovative housing management structures, agreements, and policy and procedures. 

• Advised on and drafted occupation / tenancy agreements for a large housing charity in relation to a multi-million-pound development project. 

• Acted for a housing association in a dispute regarding the termination of a management agreement in the High Court. 

• Advised a large housing association on a management agreement in respect of a property guardian scheme they were operating in London and also advised them on the requirements of a licence agreement as opposed to a tenancy agreement in respect of the scheme. 

• Acted for a charity in relation to a possession claim against a licensee who claimed he had a tenancy. The defendant appealed to the High Court. He ultimately lost his appeal. 

• Acted for a housing association in a successful possession claim against a tenant who was engaged in drugs, firearms, violence, and grooming young children. 

• Acted for a housing association in an urgent injunction to prevent nuisance and annoyance against a tenant who had sexually abused a vulnerable tenant. 

• Successfully obtained one of the very early injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance pursuant to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. This case attracted local press attention as this is one of the early instances of the then new coronavirus laws being put to use in civil proceedings. 

• Regularly advises on and presents seminars on housing management and leasehold management. 

Thomas advises landlords and tenants on commercial property disputes, including lease breaches, break notices, dilapidations, forfeiture, business lease renewals, redevelopment projects in relation to disputes, and contentious matters under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. 

• Acted for a landowner to terminate a complex commercial lease and sub-lease in time for a £2 million property sale to a developer. The tenant and sub-tenant of a car showroom failed to vacate at the date of termination. Was instructed to prepare notices and to advise on the termination and the removal of 150 cars in time for the sale to take place. 

• Acted for former tenants of commercial premises in a million-pound dilapidations dispute. 

• Acted for a landowner terminating multiple commercial leases of retail units in readiness for a £6m redevelopment project.  

• Acted for a freeholder in relation to a dispute with a GP surgery over whether the surgery had acquired a lease under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 or if they had a licence. 

• Issued numerous applications in the County Court in respect of opposed and unopposed business lease renewals pursuant to sections 25 and 26 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. 

• Acted for a well-known discount high-street store in relation to new non-compete clauses and restrictions, which the landlord had inserted into the new lease. 

• Acted for a tenant in relation to an opposed lease renewal as the landlord had failed to provide evidence of their reliance on Ground (f) which went to trial. 

• Acted for a tenant company in pursuing a claim for wrongful forfeiture and damage to business against their landlord. 

Thomas represents clients in property ownership and co-ownership disputes, including constructive trust claims, TOLATA applications, beneficial ownership disagreements, orders for sale, and property disputes arising in insolvency and family contexts. 

• Successfully granted a possession order against an occupier who claimed she had a constructive trust relating to alleged promises made by the deceased property owner.  

• Advised on a property dispute between business owners who owned a £2m hotel equally and advised on applications to court under TOLATA. The parties decided to pursue mediation. 

• Acted for a property owner in a co-ownership dispute with her ex-partner relating to a small property portfolio and was successfully awarded an order for sale of the properties as well as an order relating to the beneficial share and equitable accounting. 

• Acted for a widow in relation to a beneficial ownership dispute with her mother-in-law over a £1m property which was owned by her deceased husband and mother-in-law jointly. The parties decided to pursue mediation. 

• Acted for a trustee in bankruptcy seeking possession of a portfolio of occupied properties previously owned by the bankrupt. 

Member of The Property Litigation Association