LAND Flashcards
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF PROPERTY?
- Real property (realty)
- Personal property (personalty/chattels)
a) Chattels real
b) Chattels personal
i) Choses in possession
ii) Choses in action
WHAT ARE THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR A VALID CONTRACT?
- An agreement consisting of an offer by the owner to sell and an unconditional acceptance by the buyer of all terms
- An intention by the parties that they should be legally bound
- Consideration given by each party to the other
WHAT ARE THE THREE STAGES FOR THE TRANSFER OR SALE OF LAND?
- Sale ‘subject to contract’
- Exchange of Contract
- Completion
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE ‘SALE, SUBJECT TO CONTRACT’ STAGE?
The buyer and seller informally agree the terms of sale and everything is ‘subject to contract’. Either party can withdraw from the transaction or try to change the agreed terms without any legal consequences. During this stage, a contract is drawn up stating the terms agreed by the parties.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE ‘EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS’ STAGE?
Once the contracts are exchanged, the transaction becomes legally binding. The terms of sale are fixed and if either party defaults, the other party could take court action.
Contracts are governed by s2 Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989
WHAT DOES S2 LAW OF PROPERTY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1989 SAY ABOUT CONTRACTS?
A contract will be void unless the contract is:
- Made in writing
- Incorporates all terms which the parties have expressly agreed
- The document is signed by (or on behalf of) both the buyer and seller
WHAT ARE THE THREE POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT S2 LAW OF PROPERTY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1989?
- The terms may be incorporates by either being set out in the document, or by reference to another document
- Contracts for fitting do not have to comply with s2
- Contracts relating to the sale of land do not transfer the ownership of the land itself
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE ‘COMPLETION’ STAGE?
Completion occurs when the property is transferred to the buyer. This must be by deed by virtue of s52 Law of Property Act 1925.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CREATION OF A VALID DEED UNDER S1 LAW OF PROPERTY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1989?
A deed must:
- Be in writing
- Make clear on its face that it is intended to be a deed
- Be validly executed - signed and delivered
WHAT ARE THE TWO COMMON LAW DEFINITIONS OF LAND?
- ‘he who owns the land owns everything extending to the heavens and to the depths of the earth’
- ‘whatever is attached to the ground becomes part of it’
WHAT IS THE STATUTORY DEFINITION OF LAND ACCORDING TO S205(1)(IX) LAW OF PROPERTY ACT 1925?
‘land of any tenure, any mines or 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… and other incorporeal hereditaments’.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS ON THE EXTENT OF LAND - AIRSPACE?
A landowner cannot object to the passage of aircraft during normal flight over land. Therefore, no action for trespass or nuisance can lie in respect of flights of aircraft over property at a reasonable height. What is reasonable depends on the prevailing weather conditions at the time.
Although ownership is said to be to the heavens, the owner is only allowed rights in the airspace to such a height as is necessary for the ordinary use and enjoyment of their land and structures on it – Bernstein v Skyviews Ltd [1978]
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS ON THE EXTENT OF LAND - UNDERGROUND?
- All mines of gold and silver belong to the Crown, as does treasure by virtue of the Treasure Act 1996.
- Oil extracted from the ground under the Petroleum Act 1998 belongs to the Crown.
- The Infrastructure Act 2015 allows fracking by oil and gas companies to take place below 300 metres under neighbouring land without the landowner’s permission.
- Coal belongs to the Coal Authority by virtue of The Coal Act 1938.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS ON THE EXTENT OF LAND - SURFACE?
All minerals found on the surface are part of the land. If a seller wishes to reserve mineral rights, they must do so expressly.
Buildings, trees and plants are part of the land however, there are restrictions in the form of planning regulations which can affect what a landowner does with the land.
WHAT ARE THE THREE REMEDIES FOR TRESPASS TO LAND?
- Damages
- Injunctions
- Self Help
WHAT IS A FIXTURE?
A fixture is something that is attached to the land and automatically passes with the land
WHAT IS A FITTING?
A fitting (or chattel) is something that is not attached to the land and does not automatically pass with the land
HOW DO THE COURTS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A FIXTURE AND A FITTING?
The courts make use of two tests to determine what amounts to a fixture and the courts frequently use both tests together to reach a conclusion
WHAT IS THE FIRST TEST USED BY THE COURTS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A FIXTURE AND A FITTING?
The degree of attachment
In Holland v Hodgson [1872] spinning looms were bolted to the floor of a mill. Being attached other than by their own weight, the looms were held to be fixtures
WHAT IS THE SECOND TEST USED BY THE COURTS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A FIXTURE AND A FITTING?
The purpose of attachment
Was the object attached for its own benefit? If so, it is likely to remain a fitting. In Leigh v Taylor [1902] a tapestry nailed to the wall of the premises was held to be a fitting.
Was the object attached for the benefit of the land as a whole? If so, it is likely to be regarded as a fixture. In D’Eyncourt v Gregory [1866] the court held that marble statues of lions in the garden were fixtures as they were there to increase the enjoyment of the land.
WHAT IS THE THIRD TEST THAT IS RELEVANT WHEN DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN FIXTURES AND FITTINGS?
The permanence of the attachment
This was made clear in Botham v TSB Bank PLC [1996]
WHAT IS AN ESTATE?
An estate in land describes how long the land is to be held.
WHAT ARE THE TWO LEGAL ESTATES RECOGNISED BY LAW UNDER S1(1) LAW OF PROPERTY ACT 1925?
- The fee simple absolute in possession (freehold)
- The term of years absolute (leasehold)
WHAT IS A FEE SIMPLE ABSOLUTE IN POSSESSION (FREEHOLD)?
An estate in fee simple is one which passes to heirs on death.
The word fee means the land is capable of being inherited
The word simple means there is no limitation on who can inherit.
If the fee simple is absolute, it is not subject to limitations which might end the estate prematurely.
The estate must also exist in possession meaning the holder of the estate must have an immediate right to possess the property.
To be legal, the estate must be created by deed in accordance with s52 LPA 1925.
WHAT IS A TERM OF YEARS ABSOLUTE (LEASEHOLD)?
A lease is an estate which exists for a fixed maximum duration. Leases can be fixed-term or periodic and therefore ‘term of years’ includes weekly or monthly tenancies (s205(1)(xxvii) LPA 1925).
Fixed-term tenancies terminate at the end of the term.
Periodic tenancies must be terminated by a notice to quit.
There is no requirement for the lease to be ‘in possession’ but to be valid, it must come into effect in possession within 21 years of its’ creation (s149(3) LPA 1925).
To be legal, the lease must be created by deed in accordance with s52 LPA 1925.
WHAT ARE THE FIVE LEGAL INTERESTS UNDER S1(2) LAW OF PROPERTY ACT 1925?
- Legal easements and profits
- Legal rentcharge
- Charge by way of legal mortgage
- Certain charges arising under statute
- Rights of entry in legal leases and legal rentcharges
WHAT IS AN EQUITABLE INTEREST?
Any interest which does not qualify as a legal estate under s1(1) LPA 1925 or a legal interest under s1(2) LPA 1925 will be an equitable interest under s1(3) LPA 1925.
WHAT IS COMMONHOLD?
Commonhold was introduced by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (CLRA 2002) to meet the needs of owners of properties where the owners are interdependent i.e flats.
Commonhold is not a new estate but one created out of an absolute freehold registered estate.
The property is registered at the Land Registry as ‘commonhold land’ and the owner of each unit is referred to as the unit holder and is registered as its freehold owner
IN RESPECT OF REGISTERED LAND, WHAT HAPPENED IN 1925?
Various parts of England and Wales were compulsory registration areas
IN RESPECT OF REGISTERED LAND, WHAT HAPPENED IN 1990?
In December 1990, all land in England and Wales fell within compulsory registration areas. The following dispositions triggered first registration of the land:
1) A sale of the legal freehold; or
2) A creation of sale of the legal lease with more than seven years left to run
IN RESPECT OF REGISTERED LAND, WHAT HAPPENED IN 1999?
As well as sales, the following also triggered compulsory first registration:
- Gifts
- Assents by personal representatives
- Court orders
- First legal mortgages of the property
All triggers are governed by s6 Land Registration Act 2002
IN RESPECT OF REGISTERED LAND, WHAT HAPPENED IN 2003?
The Land Registration Act 2002 came into force in October 2003
WHAT TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION GOVERN REGISTERED LAND?
Land Registration Act 2002
Land Registration Rules 2003
WHAT ARE THE SEVEN ADVANTAGES TO THE REGISTERED LAND SYSTEM?
- It reduces costs by removing the need for repeated examinations of the title deeds
- A complete record of the interests which exist in connection with a registered title can be easily discovered.
- An accurate plan for each parcel of registered land is available
- The conveyancing process is made easier
- Drafting is reduced to a mere form-filling exercise
- The register establishes a record of proprietors of the land
- Compensation is payable if errors or mistakes are made by the Land Registry and the system is state-guaranteed.
WHAT ARE THE THREE PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERPIN THE SYSTEM OF REGISTERED LAND?
- The mirror principle
- The curtain principle
- The insurance principle
WHAT IS THE MIRROR PRINCIPLE?
The register should reflect the totality of estates and interests that exist in or over a particular plot of land.
WHAT IS THE CURTAIN PRINCIPLE?
The basis of this principle is to keep certain interests off the register. The purchase is protected against these interests by the principle of overreaching.
WHAT IS THE INSURANCE PRINCIPLE?
If loss is suffered through mistake or error, the injured party can claim compensation. The Land Registry deals with this by rectification of the register, alteration of the register or indemnity where loss has occurred.
WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF OVERREACHING?
Overreaching is where the buyer takes the property free of beneficiaries’ interests. Provided the purchase money is paid to at least two trustees, the beneficiaries interests are swept off the land and put into the proceeds of sale (s2 LPA 1925). The trustees hold the proceeds of sale on trust and pay the beneficiaries their entitlement.
WHAT ARE THE THREE REGISTERS WHICH APPEAR ON EACH REGISTERED TITLE?
- The property register
- The proprietorship register
- The charges register
WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE PROPERTY REGISTER?
A description of the property by reference to the title plan.
WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE PROPRIETORSHIP REGISTER?
This sets out who owns the land, the class of title they have over the land and any restriction(s) affecting their right to deal with the land.
WHAT ARE THE THREE POSSIBLE GRADES OF TITLE GIVEN IN RESPECT OF FREEHOLD TITLES?
- Absolute title – fee simple absolute in possession
- Qualified title – like the absolute title but the property is held subject to some defect or right
- Possessory title – usually granted to a claimant by way of adverse possession
WHAT ARE THE FOUR POSSIBLE GRADES OF TITLE GIVEN IN RESPECT OF LEASEHOLD TITLES?
- Absolute leasehold – granted where the freehold out of which it is granted is also registered at the Land Registry
- Good leasehold – granted where there is some doubt about the lessor’s right to grant the lease
- Possessory leasehold – like the absolute leasehold but is subject to some other right existing at the time of first registration
- Qualified leasehold – like qualified freehold titles
WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE CHARGES REGISTER?
Details of all incumbrances or charges affecting the property i.e mortgages
WHAT ARE THE FOUR KINDS OF INTERESTS IN REGISTERED LAND?
- Registrable estates and interests
- Interests protected by entry on the register
- Registered mortgage
- Overriding interests
WHAT ARE REGISTRABLE ESTATES AND INTERESTS?
Registrable estates and interests are registered under their own title number via substantive registration
WHAT ARE THE FIVE LEGAL ESTATES AND INTERESTS CAPABLE OF SUBSTANTIVE REGISTRATION?
S2 LRA 2002 provides that the following are capable of substantive registration:
- A fee simple absolute in possession
- A term of years absolute with at least seven years to run
- Rentcharges
- Franchises
- Profits a prendre
WHAT ARE INTERESTS PROTECTED BY ENTRY ON THE REGISTER?
These interests are entered on the register and affect the ability of the registered proprietor being able to sell.
UNDER THE LAND REGISTRATION ACT 2002, WHAT ARE THE TWO FORMS OF PROTECTION BY ENTRY ON THE REGISTER?
- Notice (found in the charges register)
- Restriction (found in the proprietorship register)
WHAT IS A NOTICE?
S32 LRA 2002 defines a notice as an entry in the register in respect of the burden of an interest affecting a registered estate or charge.
WHAT ARE THE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF NOTICE?
- Agreed notice – this is entered on the register with the agreement or on the application of the registered proprietor.
- Unilateral notice – this can be entered without the agreement or consent of the registered proprietor, but the registered proprietor will be informed of the entry and can apply to cancel it.
WHAT ARE THE FIVE INTERESTS THAT CAN BE PROTECTED BY NOTICE?
- Equitable easements
- Restrictive covenants over freehold land
- Leases of more than three years that do not exceed seven years
- Equitable mortgages
- Equitable interests such as estate contracts
WHAT IS A RESTRICTION?
S40 LRA 2002 defines a restriction as an entry in the register regulating the circumstances in which a disposition of a registered estate or charge may be the subject of an entry in the register.
A restriction can be entered with or without the consent of the registered proprietor and, where the restriction is entered without consent, they must be informed of it.
WHAT IS A REGISTERED MORTGAGE?
Legal mortgages (created by deed) are protected by the registration of a charge in the charges register
WHAT ARE INTERESTS WHICH ARE OVERRIDING?
Interests which are overriding are not registered but bind a buyer of land.
IN RESPECT OF OVERRIDING INTERESTS, WHAT DOES THE LAND REGISTRATION ACT 2002 DISTINGUISH BETWEEN?
Interests which override first registration (paras 1-3 sch 1) and those which override registered dispositions (paras 1-3 sch 3)
UNDER SCH1 LAND REGISTRATION ACT 2002, WHICH INTERESTS OVERRIDE FIRST REGISTRATION?
- Short leases (para 1)
- Persons in actual occupation (para 2)
- Easements (para 3)
HOW DO SHORT LEASES (PARA 1 SCH 1 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE FIRST REGISTRATION?
A lease granted for a term not exceeding seven years from the date of the grant overrides first registration.
There are some exceptions:
- Leases which take effect in possession more than three months after the date of the lease; and
- Certain leases under the Housing Act 1985
HOW DO PERSONS IN ACTUAL OCCUPATION (PARA 2 SCH 1 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE FIRST REGISTRATION?
The rights of a person in actual occupation of the land will override first registration. The person claiming such an overriding interest must:
- Have a right or interest in the land; and
- Be in actual occupation
HOW DO EASEMENTS (PARA 3 SCH 1 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE FIRST REGISTRATION?
Legal easements can override first registration and this applies to all easements.
To be legal, an easement must:
- Be equivalent to a legal estate; and
- Have been created:
a) By deed; or
b) By implication or
prescription
UNDER SCH3 LAND REGISTRATION ACT 2002, WHICH INTERESTS OVERRIDE REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
- Short leases (para 1)
- Persons in actual occupation (para 2)
- Easements (para 3)
HOW DO SHORT LEASES (PARA 1 SCH 3 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
A lease granted for a term not exceeding seven years from the date of the grant overrides registered dispositions.
There are some exceptions:
- Leases which take effect in possession more than three months after the date of the lease; and
- Certain leases under the Housing Act 1985
- A lease, the grant of which, constitutes a registrable disposition
HOW DO PERSONS IN ACTUAL OCCUPATION (PARA 2 SCH 3 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
The rights of a person in actual occupation of the land will override registered dispositions. The person claiming such an overriding interest must:
- Have a right or interest in the land; and
- Be in actual occupation
The following interests are excluded:
- One of a person of whom enquiry was made and it was not disclosed
- If it is not obvious, on careful inspection of the land
HOW DO EASEMENTS (PARA 3 SCH 3 LRA 2002) OVERRIDE REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
From October 2006, an unregistered legal easement will override a registered disposition if it is:
- Obvious from a reasonable inspection of the land;
- Known to the person whom the disposition is made;
- Exercised within the year before the disposition; or
- Registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965
WHAT DID THE COURT HOLD IN WILLIAMS & GLYN’S BANK LTD v BOLAND [1980] IN RESPECT OF PERSONS IN ACTUAL OCCUPATION OVERRIDING REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
Determining whether a person is in actual occupation of the land is a question of fact
WHAT DID THE COURT HOLD IN CHHOKAR V CHHOKAR [1984] IN RESPECT OF PERSONS IN ACTUAL OCCUPATION OVERRIDING REGISTERED DISPOSITIONS?
A person does not cease to be in actual occupation merely because they are temporarily absent