5. Mortgages Flashcards
What is a mortgage?
- Lender provides money as a loan
- Borrower provides security by creating a mortgage over the property in favour of the lender.
What is the status of the borrower’s legal estate when a mortgage is created?
When a mortgage is created, the borrower still holds the legal estate (freehold or leasehold) subject to the mortgage, making the mortgage a third party right over the land.
What does the creation of a mortgage allow the lender to do?
The creation of a mortgage allows the lender to enforce its security against the borrower.
Is a mortgage capable of being legal?
- Yes - capable of being legal interests in land
- Can be described as a ‘charge by way of legal mortgage’
What is the legal requirement for creating a mortgage concerning a legal estate, and how does equity address cases where the document does not meet these requirements?
To create a legal mortgage for a legal estate, a deed is required.
If a document, lacks the requirements of a deed, equity may recognize an equitable mortgage.
requirement for deed:
* * * n writing;
* * * * clear on its face that it is a deed;
* * signed;
* * witnessed (by one witness); and
* * delivered
Can a mortgage be established for an equitable interest, and what are the prerequisites for this?
Yes, a mortgage can be created over an equitable interest
This requires compliance with s 53(1) LPA 1925 - must be in writing and signed.
What are the remedies available to a lender of a legal mortgage?
- possession
- the power of sale
- debt action
- appointing a receiver
- foreclosure
What are the two remedies a lender can exercise to bring a mortgage to an end?
Power of Sale + Foreclosure
either one
How is the lender’s right to possession used?
Usually used as a precursor to the exercise of another remedy - either exercising the power of sale or appointing a receiver.
Does the borrower need to be in default for the lender to exercise their right to possession?
No - but in practice a lender will only exercise this right if the borrower is in default.
What are the two meanings of possession?
- Taking physical possession (ousting the borrowers); or
- Where the property is let, directing that the tenants pay their rent to the lender (rather than the borrower).
Does a lender need a court order for possession?
If they can retake possession without breaching s 6 of the Criminal Law Act, a court order is not needed.
What are possession proceedings for a residential property?
- Lender must comply with pre-action protocol
- Attempt to resolve any arrears prior to seeking possession
- Weighted in favour of enabling the borrower to continue to make payments and live in the property.
What is the effect of section 36 AJA on possession proceedings?
Allows the borrower to ask the court to exercise its discretion to:
* adjourn proceedings; or
* on making an order for possession, suspend execution or postpone the date for possession.
When does section 36 AJA apply?
- lender has started proceedings;
- property includes a dwelling-house; and
- borrower is likely within a reasonable period to pay arrears
his suggests that there is a reasonable expectation that the borrower will be able to catch up on missed payments soon.
What does a reasonable period for the purposes of section 36 AJA include?
Includes the full remaining period of the mortgage
For section 36 AJA to apply what does the court need?
Proof from the borrower, in the form of a detailed financial plan, demonstrating that they can pay both the mortgage installments as they fall due and any arrears.
In regards to possession, what can the lender do where the property subject to the mortgage is producing income?
Lender can use the income to pay debt owed
What is a lender’s strict duty to account?
strict duty to account is why lenders prefer to appoint a receiver in relation to an income-
producing property
For a lender to use income from a property to pay debt owed, they must:
* account to the borrower for any sum beyond that which is due to them; and
* manage the property with due diligence, accounting to the borrower for any income that should have been received had the property been managed correctly.
lender required to account for all income generated and must also recognize and inform the borrower of any income that could have been generated through better management practices.
What are the requirements of a power of sale?
Power of sale must:
* exist;
* have arisen; and
* become exercisable.