WEBINAR: What qualifies as a ‘Dwelling’ under the Defective Premises Act 1972?

In this webinar, taking place on 23rd June, Sheriar Khan and Nicholas Zeolla of Atkin Chambers will draw on their Highly Commended Hudson Prize 2025 essay (published in the Spring 2026 edition of the SCL Journal) to consider what qualifies as a ‘dwelling’ for the purposes of the Defective Premises Act 1972.

The DPA does not define the term ‘dwelling’ that sits at the heart of any section 1 claim. That ambiguity presents arguable defences in a wide range of cases given the retrospective extension of the limitation period under section 1 of the DPA from 6 to 30 years by the BSA, which has revived historic defect claims that would otherwise have been statute-barred.

In particular, Sheriar and Nicholas will cover:

• The natural and ordinary meaning of ‘dwelling’.
• How that meaning has been moulded to the statutory context of section 1(1) of the DPA.
• Worked examples: shared student accommodation and care homes.
• The competing arguments for and against treating such buildings, and the individual rooms within them, as ‘dwellings’ for the purposes of the DPA.

Date and Time:
Tuesday 23rd June
8.30am – 9.30am

Watch the webinar here: