Claim Form for a Parking Charge, Defence, lessee/landowner query

[E.X. Tortion]

I have received a claim form from a parking company which was for parking on private land. I am going to defend it.

When I originally received the PCN, I researched who owned the land and wrote a letter to the landowner. The landowner's agent replied and included in their reply was the following:

"The car park in question is leased out to a 3rd party who has exclusive control. My client therefore has nothing to do with the parking system employed by the Lessee."

Does a landowner have to give permission to a parking firm for them to be able to issue Parking Charge Notices? In this case would permission by the Lessee to the parking company be just as valid, as if the lessee were the landowner?

[atticus]

The lessee to whom the land has been leased is the landowner for this purpose. You appear to be barking up the wrong tree.

[PallasAthena]

In these circumstances I would expect that the lessee has the power to appoint a private parking company. Only the lease would confirm it but there seems no reason to doubt what the owner's agent has told you about what the lease says.

There's no legal rule that only a landowner can appoint a private parking company.

[atticus]

A lessee is a landowner. He owns a leasehold interest to which the freehold interest is subject. The lease is unlikely to say anything about appointing a private parking company - there is absolutely no need for it to do so.

[E.X. Tortion]

OK thanks for the replies, I won't include anything along those lines in my defence.