Land Part 1 Flashcards
Who does all land in England and Wales belong to?
The Crown
What do you technically own when you own land?
Rights to the land – e.g., right to possess
What are the 2 types of land rights?
- Proprietary
- Personal
Why is distinguishing between the 2 types of rights important?
Changes possible remedies and enforcements against third parties
What does action in rem mean?
Use or possession of the land can be recovered… don’t have to settle for damages
What type of right can be enforced against 3rd parties?
Proprietary
What remedy is there for personal rights?
Damages
Who do personal rights bind?
Only original parties
Personal or proprietary: freehold estate
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: Leasehold estate
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: easement
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: mortgage
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: restrictive covenant
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: estate contract
Proprietary
Personal or proprietary: beneficial interest in a trust of land
Proprietary
If a particular use of land is recognised as proprietary status, does that mean that the actual right under consideration will have proprietary status?
No… e.g., easement or license
What are the 4 steps to determine whether a right is proprietary or personal?
- Is it on the fixed list?
- Does it satisfy any substantive characteristics for the particular proprietary right?
- Has it been created/acquired in accordance with the formalities for that particular right?
- Protection: if proprietary, is it enforceable against a 3rd party?
Is a proprietary right automatically enforceable against a 3rd party?
No
What is a proprietary right of possession called?
An estate in the land
What is a fee simple absolute in possession?
A freehold estate
How long does a freehold estate last?
Until the owner dies without heirs
What does the word ‘fee’ denote (e.g., fee simple absolute)?
Right is capable of being inherited
What does the word ‘simple’ denote (e.g., fee simple absolute)?
Right can be inherited by any heir, including distant relatives
What does the word ‘absolute’ denote (e.g., fee simple absolute)?
Estate is not liable to end prematurely (unconditional)
What does the word ‘in possession’ denote (e.g., fee simple absolute)?
Owner has the current right to use and enjoyment of the property… physical possession is not necessary
What is the leaseholder also known as?
Tenant
What is freehold reversion?
The residue of the estate after the granting of a lease
What is a leasehold reversion?
Landlord retains a reversionary interest, when the time expires the leasehold reverts back to them
What is an interest in the land also known as?
Incumbrance
Is an interest in the land personal or proprietary?
Proprietary
What are the 3 legal interests?
- Mortgages
- Easements
- Rights of entry
What are the equitable interests?
- Freehold covenants
- Estate contracts
- Interests in a trust of land
- Easements granted for an uncertain term
What is a right of entry also known as?
A forfeiture clause
What does it mean that a trust splits the title to land?
Trustee is legal owner
Beneficiary is equitable owner
Can a contribution to purchase price result in an implied trust in land?
Yes
What is the main difference between the remedies available for legal vs equitable interests?
For legal interests, many remedies are available as of right, regardless of merit (e.g., damages)
For equitable interests, remedies are the 100% discretion of the court
What interest does an equitable beneficial owner technically have?
An interest under a trust of land
What is the general nature of the process of conveyancing?
Ensuring legal formalities are followed when transferring land
What are the 3 stages for the sale of a freehold?
- Exchange of contracts
- Completion of the deed
- Registration
Which stage in freehold transfer is not strictly necessary?
Exchange of contracts
At what point are the parties legally committed to buy/sell land?
On exchange of contracts
What are the 3 requirements of a valid land contract?
- Contract must be in writing
- Must contain all the expressly agreed terms
- Must be signed by both parties
What is a deed known as in unregistered land?
A conveyance
What is a deed known as in a transfer of registered land?
A transfer
Does a legal estate have to be transferred/created by deed?
Yes
What are the 3 requirements of a valid deed?
- Intended to be a deed
- Validly executed
- Be delivered
What is a TR1?
A standard form of transfer deed that is commonly used
How can you show intention to be a deed to fulfill requirement #1?
Write deed on it
What is required for valid execution of a deed where the grantor (seller) is an individual?
- Deed must be signed in the presence of a witness
Does a buyer have to sign the deed for it to be valid?
No
What does deed delivery technically require?
Acknowledgement that a person entering into a deed intends to be formally bound
What does delivery look like in practice?
Dating the document (the solicitors usually do it)
When does title to unregistered land pass?
On completion of the deed
What does selling unregistered land trigger?
Requirement to register
When does legal title pass to registered land?
On registration
What is the deadline for registering land for the first time after a sale of unregistered land?
2 months
What happens if you miss the deadline for first registration?
Legal title reverts back to seller
Can you have an oral land contract?
No
On contract exchange, is it appropriate for the seller to sign one copy, the buyer the other, then exchange?
Yes
Can a land contract be varied?
Kinda, you have to repeat the entire process for it to be valid
What does a binding land contract create?
An equitable interest in the land for the buyer
What is the difference between an option agreement and a right of pre-emption?
Option agreement = other party has a right during a certain period to serve notice that they wish to buy… seller must sell the land to the buyer
Right of pre-emption: another party gets a right of first refusal if owner decides to sell their land
What arises from a failed deed?
A land contract/equitable interest
What type of right is an estate contract?
Proprietary
What do you have to do in order for an estate contract to be binding on 3rd party purchasers?
Protect the interest (e.g., registration)
What 3 remedies are available where there is a valid land contract?
- Damages (common law, usually as of right)
- Specific performance (equitable)
- Injunction
What does it mean that a land contract must be capable of specific performance in order for it to be recognised as an equitable interest?
The claimant must come to equity with clean hands
If a tenant breached a term of a contract, is specific performance available as a remedy?
No, because they don’t have clean hands
What are the 6 triggering events (for registration)?
- Transfer of freehold estate by sale, gift, court order
- Grant of a lease for a term of more than 7 years
- Assignment of lease of unregistered lease with more than 7 years to run?
- An assent, vesting assent or vetting deed which is a disposition of the freehold or leasehold with more than 7 years to run
- The grant of a lease to take effect in possession more than 3 months after the date of the grant
- A first legal mortgage
What is the mirror principle?
The land registry should reflect all matters that the property has benefit and burden for
Is the mirror principle fully realised?
No, because of overriding interests
Define overriding interest.
An interest that does not appear on the register but will still be binding on the owner of the legal estate and any buyer of it
What is the curtain principle?
What lies behind the curtain = beneficial and equitable ownership not available on the registry
What is the insurance principle?
Accuracy of the register is guaranteed by the state
On what ‘register’ is the class of title listed?
Proprietorship
What is absolute class title?
- Best one
- Land is only bound by interests that are registered on the title or overriding interests