Ronan’s firm wins Medical Council rent battle

A firm owned by developer Johnny Ronan has won its High Court case aimed at ensuring the annual rent for the Medical Council’s new headquarters in Dublin does not fall below €820,000 although the market rent for the property is about €374,100.

Mr Justice Iarflaith O’Neill ruled yesterday the upwards only rent review clause in the council’s 20-year lease for its Kingram House headquarters off Fitzwilliam Square is not affected by a law banning upwards only rent reviews for business premises.

The 20-year lease dates from Jan 2013 but provision for it was part of a series of transactions agreed in 2008 between Tanat Ltd and the Medical Council.