Intro. to Land Law Flashcards
Tenure
The type of ownership held over a property
Freehold estate - legal definition
Estate in fee simple absolute in possession
Leasehold estate - legal definition
A term of years absolute
Registered vs unregistered title
Registered title - publicly available record of property ownership via the Land Registry, backed by a state guarantee of ownership.
Unregistered title - private ownership of property with no public record. Historic title deeds required to determine true ownership.
Name the 3 ways an easement can be created
1) Expressly
2) Impliedly
3) Through prescription
How is an easement EXPRESSLY created?
An easement which is intentionally created by the burdened estate owner (grantor) which benefits the estate owner (grantee).
What must happen for an express easement to be enforceable at common law?
Easement must be granted in a deed registered at Land Registry.
How is an easement IMPLIEDLY created?
How is an easement created BY PRESCRIPTION?
Name the 2 estates in land
1) Freehold
2) Leasehold
Define a restrictive covenant
A formal promise made by a freehold owner (covenantor) to another freehold owner (covenantee) that the covenantor will not use land in a specific way.
Covenantor
Freehold owner who makes a promise creating a restrictive covenant on land.
Covenantee
Freehold owner who benefits from covenantor’s promise that they will not use land in a specific way (in context of restrictive covenants).
Thomas v Sorrell (1673) establishes that…
A licence is permission to use land belonging to another, but is not a legal interest in land.
Is an easement a personal or proprietary interest in land?
Proprietary interest
Are restrictive covenants personal or proprietary interests in land?
Personal interests ONLY
Are restrictive covenants recognised at law?
NO
Recognised in equity ONLY
Define a mortgage
The interest in land that the lender gains from the purchaser when the purchaser obtains a loan from the lender.
The freehold estate becomes charged with the loan amount. If the mortgage is not paid, the lender can take possession of the freehold estate if enforced against the freehold owner.
What is the effect of a mortgage?
The freehold estate becomes charged with the loan amount and if the mortgage is not paid, the lender can take possession of the freehold estate if enforced against the freehold owner.
s.1(1)(a) Law of Property Act 1925
Defines freehold estate
s.1(1)(b) Law of Property Act 1925
Defines leasehold estate
s.1(2) Law of Property Act 1925
Sets out LEGAL interests in land.
What are the 2 LEGAL interests in land as set out under s.1(2) Law of Property Act 1925
Easements
Legal mortgage
s.1(3) Law of Property Act 1925 establishes…
All estates, interests and charges over land not set out under s.1(2) LPA 1925 are EQUITABLE INTERESTS ONLY.