Mortgages Flashcards
Krelinger v New Patagonia
Once a mortgage, always a mortgage
Collateral advantage will be valid if arm’s length transaction
Toomes v Conset
Courts will not allow a mortgage term that prevents redemption
Knightsbridge Estates v Byrne
Freedom of contract in commercial agreements - courts will uphold a term that postpones redemption for freehold mortgages
Fairclough v Swan Brewery
Courts will uphold right to redeem early if postponement would render the right to redeem an illusion (leasehold mortgage)
Samuel v Jarrah Timber
An option granted at the same time/as a term of the mortgage will normally be invalidated
Reeve v Lisle
An option granted in a separate transaction may be upheld (12 days later) - must give borrower unfettered choice to refuse the option
Warnborough v Garmite
Mortgage and option formed part of a larger transaction - courts held it was part of a sale and purchase agreement so option was not invalidated
Noakes v Rice
Mortgage must not be converted into something else
Once mortgage has been repaid, any collateral obligations must cease
Esso v Harper
Collateral advantage may risk being invalidated if restraint of trade (policy reasons)
Cityland v Dabrah
Court struck down punitive interest rate - no explanation of high premium, unequal bargaining power (buying own home)
Multiservice Bookbinding v Marden
Punitive interest rate but Equity will not save a commercial party from a hard bargain
Unconscionable = takes advantage of youth, inexperience or ignorance and introduces a term which no sensible person would have accepted (morally reprehensible)
Holles v Wyse
Charges for arrears/penal interest rates should relate to a genuine pre-estimate of losses incurred by default
Falco Finance v Gough
Dual interest rate - extortionate credit bargain under CCA 1974 as no relation to loss finance company would incur as result of default
Also considered weak bargaining position, inducement and enticement of initial interest rate as ‘harsh, unremitting and evil term’
Paragon Finance v Nash
Court has inherent equitable jurisdiction to strike down unconscionable terms
Interest rates 2-4% above high street rates not unconscionable due to commercial difficulties
Davies v Direct Loans
Not unconscionable to impose interest rate 5% higher than market average due to borrower’s poor credit history and risk taken by lender
Avon Finance v Bridger
Mortgage set aside because son misled elderly parents into believing they were signing document relating to original mortgage, not a fresh charge
Kingsnorth Trust v Bell
Mortgage set aside as husband had misrepresented level of risk to wife and he was responsible for obtaining her signature (acted as bank’s agent)
Coldunell v Gallon
Charge not set aside as bank had not relied on the borrower to obtain signatures and had advised them to obtain independent advice