Land Law Glossary
Adverse Possession – The occupation of land inconsistent with the rights of the owner
(occupying the property without the permission of the owner).
Beneficial Interest – The rights of a beneficiary (a person who benefits from the
property) in respect of property under a trust. It is a particular type of equitable interest.
Beneficiary – A person who is to receive the property under a trust or a person who
benefits from an interest in land i.e. ownership.
Covenant – A promise contained in a deed, the person who will benefit from the promise
is the covenantee, the person who has to keep the promise (also known as the burden) is
the covenantor.
Deed – A legal document that is clearly intended to be a deed and is signed, witnessed,
attested and delivered.
Disposition – A creation or transfer of an estate or interest in land.
Easement – The right of the owner of one piece of land (the dominant tenement) to a
benefit from other land (the servient tenement).
Equity – The part of English law originating from decisions of the Lord Chancellor, and
later the Courts of Chancery, which grew up to provide a remedy where the common law
was inadequate. It is now a regulated set of legal principles and can override any piece of
legislation or common law principle.
Estoppel – A principle which prevents a person going back on a representation. There are
two forms of Equitable Estoppel, promisorry and proprietory (see below).
Adverse Possession – The occupation of land inconsistent with the rights of the owner
(occupying the property without the permission of the owner).
Beneficial Interest – The rights of a beneficiary (a person who benefits from the
property) in respect of property under a trust. It is a particular type of equitable interest.
Beneficiary – A person who is to receive the property under a trust or a person who
benefits from an interest in land i.e. ownership.
Covenant – A promise contained in a deed, the person who will benefit from the promise
is the covenantee, the person who has to keep the promise (also known as the burden) is
the covenantor.
Deed – A legal document that is clearly intended to be a deed and is signed, witnessed,
attested and delivered.
Disposition – A creation or transfer of an estate or interest in land.
Easement – The right of the owner of one piece of land (the dominant tenement) to a
benefit from other land (the servient tenement).
Equity – The part of English law originating from decisions of the Lord Chancellor, and
later the Courts of Chancery, which grew up to provide a remedy where the common law
was inadequate. It is now a regulated set of legal principles and can override any piece of
legislation or common law principle.
Estoppel – A principle which prevents a person going back on a representation. There are
two forms of Equitable Estoppel, promisorry and proprietory (see below).
