Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
November 1995
F.V.B. v. Portugal - 18072/91
Judgment 21.11.1995
Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
Article 1 para. 2 of Protocol No. 1
Control of the use of property
Restriction on landlord's right to terminate his tenant's lease: no violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.ARTICLE 8 OF THE CONVENTION
Applicability of Article 8 contested by Government.
Positive obligations can exist in addition to negative obligation for public authorities not to interfere arbitrarily, and can require measures affecting interpersonal relations. In both cases, fair balance has to be struck between the general interest and individual interests.
Effective protection of respect for private and family life does not require existence in national law of legal protection enabling each family to have a home for themselves alone, nor does it place the State under an obligation to give a landlord the right to recover possession of a rented house on request and in any circumstances.
Legislation applied in instant case pursued the legitimate aim of promoting country's economic well-being and protecting rights of others.
Legislature entitled to make termination of a lease subject to certain conditions. Dispute concerned application of such a condition to the applicant's case.
In the circumstances, Portuguese courts had not acted arbitrarily or failed to discharge obligation to strike a fair balance between respective interests.
Conclusion: no violation (eight votes to one).
II.ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL NO. 1
Restriction on applicant's right to terminate his tenant's lease was control of the use of property and pursued a legitimate social policy aim.
Complaint raised by Commission of its own motion, but no argument subsequently presented by applicant in support. Considerations relating to alleged violation of the right set forth in Article 8 of Convention equally applicable to right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions.
Conclusion: no violation (eight votes to one).
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This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
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