SQE1 UK - FLK2 2025
Land Law Notes
Contents
Glossary & Key Information___________________________________________________ 3
Nature of Land______________________________________________________________ 6
Relevant Legislation__________________________________________________ 6
Fixtures and Fittings__________________________________________________ 6
Estates and Interests in Land__________________________________________________ 6
Creation of a Commonhold Estate_______________________________________ 6
Valid Deeds_________________________________________________________7
Valid Contracts______________________________________________________ 7
Proprietary Estoppel__________________________________________________ 7
Unregistered Title____________________________________________________________ 7
When the Title to Land Passes__________________________________________ 7
Legal Interests______________________________________________________ 8
Equitable Interests___________________________________________________ 8
Doctrine of Notice____________________________________________________ 8
Unregistered Interests which Override First Registration______________________ 8
Adverse Possession__________________________________________________ 8
Registered Title______________________________________________________________9
Triggers for First Registration___________________________________________ 9
Register of Title______________________________________________________ 9
Failure to Register the Title_____________________________________________ 9
Classes of Title______________________________________________________ 9
Cautions___________________________________________________________ 9
When the Title to Land Passes_________________________________________ 10
Notices and Restrictions on the Register_________________________________ 10
Actual Occupation___________________________________________________10
Adverse Possession_________________________________________________ 10
Co-Ownership of Land_______________________________________________________ 11
Trust of Land_______________________________________________________ 11
Severance of Joint Tenancy in Equity____________________________________ 11
Leases____________________________________________________________________ 11
Characteristics of a Lease_____________________________________________11
Distinction between a Lease and a Licence_______________________________ 11
Common Types of Leases____________________________________________ 11
Formalities for Creating a Lease________________________________________12
The Contents of a Lease______________________________________________12
Remedies for Breach of Covenant______________________________________ 12
Jervis v Harris Clause_____________________________________________ 13
1
, SQE1 UK - FLK2 2025
Termination of Leases________________________________________________13
Easements and Profits_______________________________________________________13
Characteristics of an Easement________________________________________ 13
Creation of Easements and Profits______________________________________ 13
Freehold Covenants_________________________________________________________ 13
Enforcement of Covenants____________________________________________ 13
Passing the Burden and Benefit in Equity_________________________________14
Passing the Burden and Benefit at Common Law__________________________ 14
Mortgages_________________________________________________________________ 14
Enforcing Security for Defaults on Mortgage______________________________ 14
Equitable Mortgage__________________________________________________14
Rights of the Mortgagor______________________________________________ 15
Protection of Third Parties with an Interest in Land_________________________ 15
Tenants________________________________________________________ 15
Co-Owners_____________________________________________________ 15
2
, SQE1 UK - FLK2 2025
Glossary & Key Information
Term Definition
Freehold Closest thing in English and Welsh law to absolute ownership. Also referred
to as ‘fee simple absolute in possession’.
Leasehold Estate for a fixed maximum duration. Also referred to as ‘terms of years
absolute’.
Commonhold Relatively new and mainly used for flats and commercial leases. It is like a
leasehold scheme in which a management company covenants to comply
with maintenance obligations and provide services.
Real Property Land or an interest in land.
Land The term includes ‘corporeal hereditaments’ and ‘incorporeal hereditaments’.
Land - Incorporeal Tangible items including the surface of the land, building and parts of
Hereditaments buildings, mines and minerals, trees and plants, the air above the surface of
the land, the ground below the surface of the land and fixtures.
Land - Incorporeal Intangible items including rights, easements and rents.
Hereditaments
Personal Property Personal items such as a car or computer. Can be subdivided into classes.
Chattels Traditional description for personal property.
Personal Property - Physical, moveable things such as a car.
Choses in
Possession
Personal Property - Rights which do not have a physical existence such as debts and patents.
Choses in Action
Fixture Personal property that is attached to the land and becomes part of the land.
Passes automatically on sale of the land.
Fitting Personal property that is not fixed to the land. Do not pass on sale of the land
unless specifically mentioned.
Legal Interests Generally created by deed - MEERP.
MERRP Mortgages, Easements, Rentcharges, Rights of Entry and Profits a Prendre.
Equitable Interests Some things that cannot take effect in law but can take effect only in equity
such as restrictive covenants and estate contracts. Usually when there has
been an attempt to create a legal interest but deed formalities are not met.
Equity is more interested in fairness than formality.
Unregistered Title Old system which requires someone to show a good root of title during a
conveyance.
3
Land Law Notes
Contents
Glossary & Key Information___________________________________________________ 3
Nature of Land______________________________________________________________ 6
Relevant Legislation__________________________________________________ 6
Fixtures and Fittings__________________________________________________ 6
Estates and Interests in Land__________________________________________________ 6
Creation of a Commonhold Estate_______________________________________ 6
Valid Deeds_________________________________________________________7
Valid Contracts______________________________________________________ 7
Proprietary Estoppel__________________________________________________ 7
Unregistered Title____________________________________________________________ 7
When the Title to Land Passes__________________________________________ 7
Legal Interests______________________________________________________ 8
Equitable Interests___________________________________________________ 8
Doctrine of Notice____________________________________________________ 8
Unregistered Interests which Override First Registration______________________ 8
Adverse Possession__________________________________________________ 8
Registered Title______________________________________________________________9
Triggers for First Registration___________________________________________ 9
Register of Title______________________________________________________ 9
Failure to Register the Title_____________________________________________ 9
Classes of Title______________________________________________________ 9
Cautions___________________________________________________________ 9
When the Title to Land Passes_________________________________________ 10
Notices and Restrictions on the Register_________________________________ 10
Actual Occupation___________________________________________________10
Adverse Possession_________________________________________________ 10
Co-Ownership of Land_______________________________________________________ 11
Trust of Land_______________________________________________________ 11
Severance of Joint Tenancy in Equity____________________________________ 11
Leases____________________________________________________________________ 11
Characteristics of a Lease_____________________________________________11
Distinction between a Lease and a Licence_______________________________ 11
Common Types of Leases____________________________________________ 11
Formalities for Creating a Lease________________________________________12
The Contents of a Lease______________________________________________12
Remedies for Breach of Covenant______________________________________ 12
Jervis v Harris Clause_____________________________________________ 13
1
, SQE1 UK - FLK2 2025
Termination of Leases________________________________________________13
Easements and Profits_______________________________________________________13
Characteristics of an Easement________________________________________ 13
Creation of Easements and Profits______________________________________ 13
Freehold Covenants_________________________________________________________ 13
Enforcement of Covenants____________________________________________ 13
Passing the Burden and Benefit in Equity_________________________________14
Passing the Burden and Benefit at Common Law__________________________ 14
Mortgages_________________________________________________________________ 14
Enforcing Security for Defaults on Mortgage______________________________ 14
Equitable Mortgage__________________________________________________14
Rights of the Mortgagor______________________________________________ 15
Protection of Third Parties with an Interest in Land_________________________ 15
Tenants________________________________________________________ 15
Co-Owners_____________________________________________________ 15
2
, SQE1 UK - FLK2 2025
Glossary & Key Information
Term Definition
Freehold Closest thing in English and Welsh law to absolute ownership. Also referred
to as ‘fee simple absolute in possession’.
Leasehold Estate for a fixed maximum duration. Also referred to as ‘terms of years
absolute’.
Commonhold Relatively new and mainly used for flats and commercial leases. It is like a
leasehold scheme in which a management company covenants to comply
with maintenance obligations and provide services.
Real Property Land or an interest in land.
Land The term includes ‘corporeal hereditaments’ and ‘incorporeal hereditaments’.
Land - Incorporeal Tangible items including the surface of the land, building and parts of
Hereditaments buildings, mines and minerals, trees and plants, the air above the surface of
the land, the ground below the surface of the land and fixtures.
Land - Incorporeal Intangible items including rights, easements and rents.
Hereditaments
Personal Property Personal items such as a car or computer. Can be subdivided into classes.
Chattels Traditional description for personal property.
Personal Property - Physical, moveable things such as a car.
Choses in
Possession
Personal Property - Rights which do not have a physical existence such as debts and patents.
Choses in Action
Fixture Personal property that is attached to the land and becomes part of the land.
Passes automatically on sale of the land.
Fitting Personal property that is not fixed to the land. Do not pass on sale of the land
unless specifically mentioned.
Legal Interests Generally created by deed - MEERP.
MERRP Mortgages, Easements, Rentcharges, Rights of Entry and Profits a Prendre.
Equitable Interests Some things that cannot take effect in law but can take effect only in equity
such as restrictive covenants and estate contracts. Usually when there has
been an attempt to create a legal interest but deed formalities are not met.
Equity is more interested in fairness than formality.
Unregistered Title Old system which requires someone to show a good root of title during a
conveyance.
3
