Landlord's Refusal to Renew Commercial Lease Based on Renovation Needs Rejected

A property owner, having leased commercial premises, sought to terminate the lease upon its expiration, citing the need for substantial renovation work requiring the premises to be entirely vacated. The lessee opposed the termination, arguing that the planned renovations were not substantial enough to warrant eviction, and furthermore, that the work could be performed partially while maintaining business activity, as evidenced by a structural engineer's report. The Court of Cassation rejected the appeal, affirming that the landlord's asserted need for substantial renovations justifying non-renewal must be demonstrably imperative and could not be circumvented by partial execution or minor adjustments, thereby upholding the lower court's finding that the proposed work did not legally justify refusing the lease renewal.