LAND Flashcards
What is the focus of the study of Land law?
The Crown’s ownership of land
The physical land
The history of land ownership
Rights in the land
The sale of property
Rights in the land
Correct. Land law is all about rights in the land, rather than the physical land itself. These rights can be very powerful. Land law is also the study of different land-related relationships, such as landlord and tenant.
A person describes themselves as the owner of a piece of land, which includes a house and garden. What do they own?
The physical land
A right to possess the land
The physical building on the land only
A right to possess the land
Correct. We are completely wrong in everyday language when we refer to ourselves as owning a piece of land. The Crown owns all land in England and Wales. What we technically own is a right to possess the land.
Which of the following pieces of statute is the foundation of modern land law?
The Law of Property Act 1066
The Land Registration Act 2002
The Law of Property Act 1925
The Law of Property Act 2002
The Law of Property Act 1925
Land law was radically overhauled by a statute called the Law of Property Act 1925 (LPA). This is the reason that the majority of land law has its roots in statute, rather than case law, and the LPA 1925 is the real foundation of modern land law.
Which of the following options correctly describes the process you must go through to determine if a right being claimed is proprietary or not?
Examine whether the right in question relate to personal or real property
Conduct a physical inspection of the land to ascertain whether there is evidence of the right in question
Determine whether the right in question has been registered
Determine if the right is on the list of recognised proprietary rights, whether it satisfies the substantive characteristics, and has been created/acquired in accordance with the formalities for the right
Determine if the right is on the list of recognised proprietary rights, whether it satisfies the substantive characteristics, and has been created/acquired in accordance with the formalities for the right
Proprietary rights are very powerful. As a result, these requirements will have to be met for a right to have proprietary status in the circumstances.
Which of the following statements best explains what it means if someone holds a proprietary right in the land?
The right is enforceable in personam
The right is in personal property
Compensation is available for breach of a proprietary right
The right is capable of being enforced against third parties
The right will automatically be enforceable against a new owner of the land
The right is capable of being enforced against third parties
A proprietary right is capable of being enforced against third parties. It will not just be enforceable against the grantor of the right. A proprietary right is not, however, automatically enforceable against a third party.
A landowner grants their friend a right to live in the landowner’s house for 5 years. One year later the landowner decides they would like the house back. The landowner goes into the house and changes the locks. Which of the following statements correctly explains what it means if the right to live in the house is determined to be a proprietary right known as a lease?
The friend would be able to recover the right to live in the house for the remainder of the term
The Crown owns the land and would be able to evict the both the landowner and the friend if it would like to
The friend would not be able to do anything as the landowner owns the land
If the landowner sold the house then the friend would not be able to enforce the right to live in the house against the new owner
The friend would have to settle for damages for breach of the right
The friend would be able to recover the right to live in the house for the remainder of the term
A lease is a proprietary right which is enforceable in rem ie the right is in the land rather than against the landowner who granted the right. This means if the right is a lease then the friend would be entitled to recover possession and use of the house for the remainder of the lease term.
Two landowners are neighbours. One of the landowners grants the other a right to store coal in their coal shed. The grantor of the right sells their house. The new owner asks the neighbour to move the coal from the shed. Which of the following statements best describes the legal position?
The neighbour does not need to move the coal if the right is an easement and if it has been registered properly at the Land Registry
The neighbour does not need to move the coal because it is real property
The neighbour will have to move the coal because it is personal property.
The neighbour does not need to move the coal because they have a proprietary right in the land.
The neighbour will have to move the coal because such a right can never be enforced against a third party
The neighbour does not need to move the coal if the right is an easement and if it has been registered properly at the Land Registry
The neighbour does not need to move the coal if the right to store is an easement, provided it has been registered at the Land Registry. A right to store is capable of being an easement. Provided that it satisfies the substantive requirements of easements and has been created in accordance with the correct formalities then it will be an easement. If the easement is registered it would then be binding the new landowner.
What is the technical name for a freehold estate?
Term of years absolute
Fee simple years absolute
Term of years in possession
Fee simple absolute in possession
Fee simple absolute in possession
This is how the freehold is defined in LPA 1925, s 1(1)(a). However, in practice it is always referred to as the freehold.
Does the freeholder need to be physically in possession of a piece of land?
Yes, all of the land
Yes, at least part of the land
No
No
Physical possession is not necessary as ‘in possession’ includes receiving rent.
The particulars of sale for a third floor, two-bedroomed flat in Camden state that the price is £400,000 and there are 125 years left to run on the term. If you bought this flat, what would you be buying?
A personal right in the land
The physical land
A freehold estate
The fee simple
A leasehold estate
A leasehold estate
Though you may think you will be the owner of the flat, what you would actually be the owner of is a 125 year lease of the flat. If you bought this flat, you would have a proprietary right to possess the land for 125 years.
Which of the following correctly describes an estate in land?
A right to use or enjoy the land
A right to possess the land
Physical ownership of the land
A right to possess the land
We cannot own the physical land, we can just own a right to possess the land. This is known as an estate.
Which of the 3 stages of transferring a freehold estate is not necessary to effect a legal transfer of the title?
All stages are necessary
Contract
Registration
Deed
Contract
A contract is not required to legally transfer the land. However, it is usual for the parties to enter into a contract as part of the conveyancing process.
Which of the following options is the correct statutory authority for the rule that a deed must be used to transfer a freehold estate?
LPA 1925, s 52
LP(MP)A 1989, s 1
LRA 2002, s 27
LP(MP)A 1989, s 2
LPA 1925, s 52
A legal estate must be transferred or created by deed. LPA, s 52 relates to the transfer of a freehold estate. It also relates to the creation of a leasehold estate and a legal mortgage and a legal easement as you will learn about.
If a piece of registered land is transferred, at what point is the buyer recognised as being the legal owner of the land?
Registration
When the land is registered for the first time
Exchange of contracts
When the purchase money is paid
Completion of the transfer deed
Registration
Legal title (ie ownership) transfers at the point at which the buyer is registered at the Land Registry.
If the land being transferred is unregistered land, does the transfer need to be registered?
Yes the land transfer will trigger the requirement to register the land for the first time
No there is never a requirement to register a land transfer
No because the legal title transfers at the point at which the deed is completed
Yes the registered title will need to be updated
Yes the land transfer will trigger the requirement to register the land for the first time
The land transfer will trigger a requirement to trigger the land for the first time. This is called compulsory land registration.
A buyer and seller enter into a document that is described as a ‘transfer deed’ for the sale of a piece of land. The seller signs the deed in the presence of their solicitor, who attests their signature. The buyer transfers the purchase money and the seller’s solicitor then dates the document. Which of the following statements correctly explains whether the deed is valid?
The deed is invalid because it has not been delivered
The deed is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 1
The deed is valid because it complies with LPA 1925, s 52
The deed is invalid because it has not been signed by both the buyer and the seller
The deed is invalid because it has not been correctly executed by the seller
The deed is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 1
The deed is valid. It has been clearly intended as a deed by being described as such, it has been correctly executed – signed by the seller in the presence of a witness who also signs and it has been delivered, which was done by dating the document. It therefore complies with a requirements laid down in LP (MP) A 1989, s.1, which is the statutory authority which tells us the requirements of a deed.
A buyer and seller of land agree that the buyer will buy a piece of land from the seller for a price of £100,000. They instruct solicitors. The buyer’s solicitor carries out various investigations into the land before the buyer confirms it is happy to proceed. The terms of the agreement are put into a document, which is signed by the buyer and the seller.
Which of the following statement correctly explains the validity of this document?
The document is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 1
The document is valid because it satisfies the requirements in LRA 2002, s 27
The document is invalid because it has not been delivered
The document is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 2
The document is invalid because it has not been witnessed
The document is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 2
The buyer and seller have not entered into a contract to buy/sell the land. The contract is valid because it is in writing, contains all the agreed terms and has been signed by both the buyer and seller. It complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 2, which is the correct statutory authority.
A buyer and seller of land agree that the buyer will buy a piece of land from the seller for a price of £100,000. They instruct solicitors. The buyer’s solicitor carries out various investigations into the land before the buyer confirms it is happy to proceed. The terms of the agreement are put into a document, which is signed the seller in the presence of a witness. The document is then dated.
Which of the following statement correctly explains the validity of this document?
The document is invalid because it has not been delivered
The document is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 2
The document is valid because it complies with LP(MP)A 1989, s 1
The document is invalid because the witnessed has not attested his signature
The document is invalid because it has not been signed by both the buyer and the seller
The document is invalid because it has not been signed by both the buyer and the seller
The buyer and seller have entered into a contract to buy/sell the land. The contract is not valid it has not been signed by both the buyer and seller. It does not comply with LP(MP)A 1989, s.2. There is no requirement that either signature be witnessed.
If a piece of unregistered land is transferred, at what point is the buyer recognised as being the legal owner of the land?
Exchange of contracts
When the purchase money is paid
Completion of the transfer deed
When the land is registered for the first time
Registration
Completion of the transfer deed
Which of the following options best explains why approximately 15% of land in England and Wales remains unregistered?
The land is subject to an overriding interest
You only have to register a piece of land if a triggering event occurs eg sale of the freehold estate
The land will be in an area which is not designated as being subject to compulsory registration
The landowner has chosen not to register the land
You only have to register a piece of land if a triggering event occurs eg sale of the freehold estate
From 1926 onwards central government designated various areas as being areas of compulsory registration, so eventually all of England and Wales would be registered. It was not until 1990 that all of England and Wales became designated as an area subject to compulsory registration. The effect of designating an area as being subject to compulsory registration is that if there is then a transaction or event (disposition) with the land which triggers compulsory registration (a triggering event) then the land must be registered for the first time. If there has not be a triggering event with a piece of land it will remain unregistered unless the land owner chooses to make a voluntary first registration application.
Which of the following options best explains the advantages of the system of Land Registration?
There are no overriding interests which could bind the land
Dealing with registered land is very repetitive and so speeds up the process of conveyancing
The process of conveyancing is quicker, simpler and ownership is guaranteed by the state
Approximately 75% of land in England and Wales is now registered so solicitors will be more familiar with the registered land system
The Land Registry offer reduced fees if that land is registered
The process of conveyancing is quicker, simpler and ownership is guaranteed by the state
A buyer of registered land does not need to investigate numerous title deeds to establish ownership and the rights a piece of land has the benefit/burden of. As a result, it is quicker and simpler to investigate a piece of registered land and speeds up the process of conveyancing. Also, ownership of a registered pieces of land is guaranteed by the state, so there is a mistake with the register then the innocent party who has suffered loss can make a claim for compensation against the Land Registry.
Which of the following options is the correct statutory authority for the requirement to register a piece of land for the first time following the grant of a legal mortgage over the unregistered freehold estate?
LRA 2002, s 27
LRA 2002, sch 2
LPA 1925, s 27
LPA 1925, s 4
LRA 2002, s 4
LRA 2002, s 4
LRA 2002, s 4 lists the transactions over unregistered land that trigger a requirement to register the land for the first time. The grant of a legal mortgage over a piece of unregistered land will trigger a requirement to register the land for the first time.
Which of the following options correctly lists the dispositions (ie transactions) that trigger a requirement to register the land for the first time?
The grant of a 3 year lease, the sale of a freehold and the grant of an equitable mortgage
The grant of a 1 year lease, the assent of a freehold and the grant of an equitable mortgage
The grant of a 9 year lease, the gifting of a freehold and the grant of a legal mortgage
The grant of a 6 year lease, the sale of a freehold and the grant of a legal mortgage
The grants of a 7 years lease, the sale of a freehold and the grant of a legal mortgage
The grant of a 9 year lease, the gifting of a freehold and the grant of a legal mortgage
Under LRA 2002, s 4 (first registration) and LRA 2002, s 27 (transactions involving already registered land) the circumstances which trigger compulsory registration now include all of these transactions. It is not necessary for there to be a sale of a freehold estate, the gift or assent of a freehold estate will also trigger a registration requirement. The grant of a lease over 7 years must be completed by registration, as must the grant of a legal mortgage.
Which system for proving ownership of land is governed by the LRA 2002?
Registered Land
Unregistered Land
The Land Registry
Registered Land
The LRA 2002 governs the registered land system. The system was introduced by the Land Registration Act 1925, but this has not been repealed and replaced in its entirety by the LRA 2002.