PVL3701 STUDY NOTES 2025
Ace PVL3701 with the Ultimate Study Companion!
Tired of flipping endlessly through the UNISA Property Law study guide and still
feeling lost? Say hello to clear, complete, and (dare we say?) even fun study
notes!
❖ Covers ALL 15 Study Units – perfectly aligned with your official study guide
❖ Packed with exam-style questions and answers after every unit
❖ Follows the IPAC legal answering method (exactly how UNISA expects it!)
❖ Integrates case law, legislation, past paper insights, and common examiner
traps
❖ Highlights what lecturers want to see and how to score high in application
questions
💡 Whether you're aiming for a distinction or just want to pass with confidence,
these notes are your ultimate Property Law sidekick.
Stop stressing. Start understanding. Smash PVL3701.
Get your copy now and turn "I don’t get this" into "I OWN this!"✨
Want notes for other UNISA law modules too?
Drop a request using the details below :
FOR EXAMS, PORTFOLIO, AND ASSIGNMENT ASSISTANCE WHATSAPP 083 286 8465
EMAIL:
,PVL3701 Law of Property – Study Notes (UNISA)
Exam Preparation & Answer Technique (IPAC Method)
Before diving into the content, it’s crucial to understand how to approach exam
questions and structure answers as UNISA expects. A handy framework is IPAC
(Issue, Principle, Application, Conclusion). This is basically a legal problem-solving
GPS:
• Issue: Identify the legal question or issue at hand. What property law problem
needs resolving? (Think of this as spotting the “what’s at stake?” in a scenario.)
• Principle: State the relevant law – the rules or principles that apply. Define key
concepts (in your own words!) and cite any applicable legislation or case law.
Essentially, “what rules from property law apply here?”
• Application: Now apply those principles to the facts of the question. This is
where you match the law to the scenario’s details. Discuss how the facts meet
(or don’t meet) the legal requirements. (This is where you score big points –
showing you can use the law, not just recite it.)
• Conclusion: Give a clear conclusion or advice based on your application.
Resolve the issue – e.g., who has the right, who wins the dispute, what legal
outcome should be.
Why IPAC? It ensures your answers are well-structured, logical, and focused,
which is exactly what UNISA markers want In exam feedback, lecturers emphasize
that answers should not just dump information but apply it in an organized way. In fact,
they explicitly “do not give marks for direct quotations from the Study Guide” – they
assess your understanding and how well you apply the material. So: use your own
words, explain concepts clearly, then apply them. Think “Issue → Rule → Apply →
Conclude” – or as one guide put it, Define ➜ Apply ➜ Conclude.
Tip: UNISA expects you to reference case law and legislation where relevant, but you
don’t need formal footnotes in an exam. Simply mention the case name (and maybe
the key point from it). For example: “As held in First National Bank of SA Ltd v
Commissioner for SARS (2002), a deprivation of property is ‘arbitrary’ if the law lacks
sufficient reason for itfile-dp1u6jwdty8uapr2terbxs.” This shows you know your stuff.
,Also, providing examples (even hypothetical ones) can impress examiners – e.g.,
illustrating a principle with a short scenario or analogy. Just keep it concise and
relevant. And speaking of concise: UNISA exams often have line or length limits for
answers, so practice being succinct without losing essential substance.
Finally, remember UNISA’s golden rules: no plagiarism, no copy-paste, and no
consulting others or AI during exams. They want your legal reasoning. If you
structure it well (thank you, IPAC), substantiate with the study guide, cases, and
statutes, and keep it focused, you’ll do great. (Think of IPAC as your friendly exam-
lawyer sidekick – not as fun as Marvel’s sidekicks, but it will save your day on the
exam!)
With that strategy in mind, let’s jump into the content of Property Law PVL3701,
organized by study units 1–15 as in your official study guide. Each unit summary is
followed by some exam-style questions to test your understanding, with answers
provided.
, Study Unit 1: Introduction to Property Law – Things as Legal Objects
1. Introduction to Property Law:
Property law (also called the law of things) is the branch of private law dealing with
rights in property (things) – especially rights in corporeal objects (tangible things).
It addresses what a “thing” is in legal terms, who owns or has rights to it, and how
those rights are acquired, transferred, or lost. Importantly, in South Africa, “property
law” in a broad sense can include rights to both tangible and intangible items, but the
law of things (strictly speaking) focuses on tangible, corporeal objects. Essentially,
if you can touch it (or at least definitively control it), it’s within the law of things.
2. Definitions:
A “thing” (res) in legal terms is an object capable of physical control that is useful
and of value to people. Not every object or entitlement is a “thing” in this sense. For
example, a corporeal thing like a book or a car is a legal “thing.” But certain items are
not considered “things” – e.g., free human beings are not objects in law (you can’t own
a person!), and personal rights (like a claim against someone) are not “things” but
rather rights against a person. In property law, we often concern ourselves with
corporeal things as legal objects, though incorporeal property (like shares or patents)
is property of a different kind. If it sounds abstract, just remember: if it’s something you
can drop on your foot (ouch) or sell in a market, it’s likely a “thing” in property law. If
it’s an idea or a person – not so much.
3. Function of the law of things:
Property law’s function is to regulate relationships between persons and things and
by extension, between persons concerning those things. It determines who has what
rights in respect of an object (e.g., ownership, possession, etc.) and provides remedies
when those rights are infringed. It brings order to the proverbial playground of property:
establishing rules so that we know what belongs to whom, what you can (and can’t)
do with your stuff, and how to resolve conflicts over stuff. In short, it balances individual
property rights with the interests of the community (through limitations, which we’ll see
in later units).
4. Basis and sources of property law:
Ace PVL3701 with the Ultimate Study Companion!
Tired of flipping endlessly through the UNISA Property Law study guide and still
feeling lost? Say hello to clear, complete, and (dare we say?) even fun study
notes!
❖ Covers ALL 15 Study Units – perfectly aligned with your official study guide
❖ Packed with exam-style questions and answers after every unit
❖ Follows the IPAC legal answering method (exactly how UNISA expects it!)
❖ Integrates case law, legislation, past paper insights, and common examiner
traps
❖ Highlights what lecturers want to see and how to score high in application
questions
💡 Whether you're aiming for a distinction or just want to pass with confidence,
these notes are your ultimate Property Law sidekick.
Stop stressing. Start understanding. Smash PVL3701.
Get your copy now and turn "I don’t get this" into "I OWN this!"✨
Want notes for other UNISA law modules too?
Drop a request using the details below :
FOR EXAMS, PORTFOLIO, AND ASSIGNMENT ASSISTANCE WHATSAPP 083 286 8465
EMAIL:
,PVL3701 Law of Property – Study Notes (UNISA)
Exam Preparation & Answer Technique (IPAC Method)
Before diving into the content, it’s crucial to understand how to approach exam
questions and structure answers as UNISA expects. A handy framework is IPAC
(Issue, Principle, Application, Conclusion). This is basically a legal problem-solving
GPS:
• Issue: Identify the legal question or issue at hand. What property law problem
needs resolving? (Think of this as spotting the “what’s at stake?” in a scenario.)
• Principle: State the relevant law – the rules or principles that apply. Define key
concepts (in your own words!) and cite any applicable legislation or case law.
Essentially, “what rules from property law apply here?”
• Application: Now apply those principles to the facts of the question. This is
where you match the law to the scenario’s details. Discuss how the facts meet
(or don’t meet) the legal requirements. (This is where you score big points –
showing you can use the law, not just recite it.)
• Conclusion: Give a clear conclusion or advice based on your application.
Resolve the issue – e.g., who has the right, who wins the dispute, what legal
outcome should be.
Why IPAC? It ensures your answers are well-structured, logical, and focused,
which is exactly what UNISA markers want In exam feedback, lecturers emphasize
that answers should not just dump information but apply it in an organized way. In fact,
they explicitly “do not give marks for direct quotations from the Study Guide” – they
assess your understanding and how well you apply the material. So: use your own
words, explain concepts clearly, then apply them. Think “Issue → Rule → Apply →
Conclude” – or as one guide put it, Define ➜ Apply ➜ Conclude.
Tip: UNISA expects you to reference case law and legislation where relevant, but you
don’t need formal footnotes in an exam. Simply mention the case name (and maybe
the key point from it). For example: “As held in First National Bank of SA Ltd v
Commissioner for SARS (2002), a deprivation of property is ‘arbitrary’ if the law lacks
sufficient reason for itfile-dp1u6jwdty8uapr2terbxs.” This shows you know your stuff.
,Also, providing examples (even hypothetical ones) can impress examiners – e.g.,
illustrating a principle with a short scenario or analogy. Just keep it concise and
relevant. And speaking of concise: UNISA exams often have line or length limits for
answers, so practice being succinct without losing essential substance.
Finally, remember UNISA’s golden rules: no plagiarism, no copy-paste, and no
consulting others or AI during exams. They want your legal reasoning. If you
structure it well (thank you, IPAC), substantiate with the study guide, cases, and
statutes, and keep it focused, you’ll do great. (Think of IPAC as your friendly exam-
lawyer sidekick – not as fun as Marvel’s sidekicks, but it will save your day on the
exam!)
With that strategy in mind, let’s jump into the content of Property Law PVL3701,
organized by study units 1–15 as in your official study guide. Each unit summary is
followed by some exam-style questions to test your understanding, with answers
provided.
, Study Unit 1: Introduction to Property Law – Things as Legal Objects
1. Introduction to Property Law:
Property law (also called the law of things) is the branch of private law dealing with
rights in property (things) – especially rights in corporeal objects (tangible things).
It addresses what a “thing” is in legal terms, who owns or has rights to it, and how
those rights are acquired, transferred, or lost. Importantly, in South Africa, “property
law” in a broad sense can include rights to both tangible and intangible items, but the
law of things (strictly speaking) focuses on tangible, corporeal objects. Essentially,
if you can touch it (or at least definitively control it), it’s within the law of things.
2. Definitions:
A “thing” (res) in legal terms is an object capable of physical control that is useful
and of value to people. Not every object or entitlement is a “thing” in this sense. For
example, a corporeal thing like a book or a car is a legal “thing.” But certain items are
not considered “things” – e.g., free human beings are not objects in law (you can’t own
a person!), and personal rights (like a claim against someone) are not “things” but
rather rights against a person. In property law, we often concern ourselves with
corporeal things as legal objects, though incorporeal property (like shares or patents)
is property of a different kind. If it sounds abstract, just remember: if it’s something you
can drop on your foot (ouch) or sell in a market, it’s likely a “thing” in property law. If
it’s an idea or a person – not so much.
3. Function of the law of things:
Property law’s function is to regulate relationships between persons and things and
by extension, between persons concerning those things. It determines who has what
rights in respect of an object (e.g., ownership, possession, etc.) and provides remedies
when those rights are infringed. It brings order to the proverbial playground of property:
establishing rules so that we know what belongs to whom, what you can (and can’t)
do with your stuff, and how to resolve conflicts over stuff. In short, it balances individual
property rights with the interests of the community (through limitations, which we’ll see
in later units).
4. Basis and sources of property law:
