Mortgages Flashcards
Is a mortgage capable of being a legal interest?
Yes
How does a mortgage become a legal interest?
If made by deed and then registered
What formalities are required for a deed for a mortgage?
- document must have been intended to be a deed
- deed must be validly executed
- deed must be delivered
What happens if a deed is not registered?
Mortgage cannot take effect as legal mortgage but could still be an equitable interest
When can there be an equitable mortgage?
- when there is a mortgage of an equitable interest
- defective legal mortgage
How can an equitable mortgage over an equitable interest in the land be created?
By it being in writing and signed by the guarantor
When will a defective legal mortgage create an equitable mortgage?
Equity will recognise contract to grant a legal mortgage provided it is in writing, contains all the agreed terms and is signed by both the mortgagor and mortgagee
What happens when a mortgage has been repaid in full?
Mortgage entries in Land Registry must be removed either by DS1 form (for mortgage of whole of land) or DS3 form for mortgage of only part
What are the four elements of protection provided for by the equity of redemption?
1) Equitable right to redeem loan will extend it beyond legal right to redeem
2) Protection from clauses which postpone or prevent redemption
3) Protection from clauses which give collateral advantages to the lender
4) Protection from unconscionable terms in the mortgage
When will the courts deem a clause to prevent redemption or be a clog or fetter on equity of redemption? And when will they not?
- they will not allow redemption clauses that mean that the borrower is prevented from getting anything back of any value
- they will allow clauses whereby the borrower gets back exactly what has been mortgaged, even if it is over a long period of time and the borrower has had favourable interest rates
When will equity of redemption prevent options to purchase?
- when it is a clog on equity of redemption
- when it was granted at the same time as the transaction
When will equity of redemption not prevent options to purchase?
- when granted independently to the mortgage
- when granted on the same day but are in fact completely separate transactions
When will the equity of redemption prevent collateral advantages?
Will not be allow lenders to gain additional value beyond capital repayment and interest
Collateral advantage will be struck out if it is unconscionable, nature of a penalty or if repugnant to the equitable right to redeem
What have courts said in relation to equity of redemption, collateral advantages and solus ties?
Solus ties will be upheld in commercial transactions if they end within the mortgage term but not if they exceed the mortgage term (borrower would not be getting back what they had mortgaged)
When will equity of redemption prevent unconscionable terms?
- When the term is more than just unfair or unreasonable
- clear imbalance of bargaining powers between the parties
- where interest rate goes beyond high but wipes out any chance of surplus sale proceeds for borrower
- if imposed in a morally reprehensible manner
When will a term not be unconscionable?
- where it is just a bad bargain
- where the interest rate is just high rather then a penalty
- where high interest rate is because lender is in difficult financial circumstances
- where high interest rate is because borrower has poor credit history and are a credit risk
What is the priority rules amongst registered charges?
They rank in the order they were registered NOT created