L1: Introduction Flashcards
Definition of land
s295 LPA 1925: Land includes land of any tenure (either freehold or leasehold), and mines and minerals, whether or not held apart from the surface, buildings or parts of buildings (whether the division is horizontal, vertical, or made in any other way) and other corporeal hereditaments; also a manor, an advowson, and a rent and other incorporeal hereditaments, and an easement, right privilege or benefit in, over or derived from land; and mines and minerals include any strata or seam of minerals or substances in or under any land, and powers of working and getting the same… and manor includes a lordship, and reputed manor or lordship; and hereditament means any real property which on intestacy occurring before the commencement of this act might have devolved upon an heir
Does the airspace above land come within the definition of land?
Bernstein v Skyviews- limited (upper v lower airspace). A landowner only controls height necessary for ordinary use and enjoyment of their land
Kelsen v Imperial Tobacco
The defendant owned the freehold in premises from which he ran a tobacco business.
He leased part of the premises to the claimant from which he ran a tobacconist shop and had a flat in which he resided.
The defendant erected a sign that protruded into the claimant’s airspace by four inches.
Sign protruding into neighbours airspace=trespass
Fixed objects can trespass into airspace (no damage/loss necessary)
Bocardo v Star Energy
Mining under another’s land = trespass unless its beyond the depth which is beyond the scope of potential access
What are corporeal hereditaments?
Tangible Property
What are fixtures?
Land- a piece of equipment or furniture which is fixed in position in a building or vehicle.
What are chattels?
Items of property that is not land
Do fixtures pass with property under the sale of that property?
Yes- s62 LPA 1925
How do parties decide which fixtures pass under the sale?
Common for parties to contract on what counts as a fixture (as terms)
What is the twofold test the courts use to determine whether something is a fixture or chattel?
Degree of annexation & purpose of annexation
What is meant by ‘degree of annexation’?
How permanently fixed an item is to the ground- the more strongly an item is fixed to the ground, increased likelihood it is regarded as a fixture
What is meant by ‘purpose of annexation’?
Whether an item was intended as long-term improvement to the land
Elitestone v Morris
- Chalet resting on its own weight
- Not fixed to the ground
- Occupiers needed protection under security of tenure legislation
- To have protected tenancy, chalet needed to form part of the land
- purpose of annexation took precedent
- Even though the chalet was not affixed to the land, it was so difficult to move that you would need to totally destroy the chalet to move it
D’Eyncourt v Gregory
If the item in question forms part of the architectural design, intended to be a permanent improvement to the land -> fixture
What if the two tests give different answers?
The purpose test will prevail hamp v bygrave
Parker v British Airways
original owner of an item has best claim, if the owner cannot be found ownership depends on the nature of land and indications as to whether the landowner intended to control such objects
What if an item is found in a public place?
Onus on the landowner to indicate to the public that they desire to control the land & items found on it via signage (items found on the property of…)
What about items buried in land?
automatically property owner’s Waverly BC v Fletcher
Waverly BC v Fletcher
brooch found underground with metal detector
ownership of brooch went to council, who owned the land
What is the study of land law for?
the study of proprietary rights in land- the creation/transfer/operation and termination
the ways they affect the use/enjoyment of the physical asset
What is a proprietary right?
Right in the property itself (in rem)
enforceable against the land
puts you in control
has the ability to bind third parties
Whats a personal right?
rights in personam
king v david allen & sons
given a licence (personal right) to place posters in cinema
cinema owner transferred ownership of cinema to a third party
tried to assert their right to continue putting up posters
denied the right- lacked a proprietary right in the cinema
What are the different categories of proprietary rights?
Ownership-type (freehold/leasehold)
Lesser rights (easement/mortgages)- own the right not the land
Possessory rights (adverse possession)
Licences (not proprietary)
Manchester Airport v Dutton
Environmental protestors invaded NT property, licensed for tree felling to manchester airport
NT not willing to bring eviction proceedings
FEll to manchester airport to evict protestors
MA only had a licence- not usually possible to get an eviction notice
Courts interpreted relevant statute to give MA priority
Why are formalities important?
You don’t want to create proprietary rights by mistake
What are formalities?
The documents/transaction process you need to create or transfer proprietary rights in land
Which forms can formalities take?
Paper or electronic processes
What are the consequences of improper formalities?
Generation of rights likely to be ineffective
Can proprietary rights arise even if they are created improperly?
May still have status at equitable level or implied by the courts/statute
How can proprietary rights be guaranteed?
Through express creation