LL4052 - Land Law I (2021/22)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2021/22 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Land Law I | ||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2021/22(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Land Law I is a core module for the LL.B. courses, which introduces students to the key principles of the law relating to real property, one of the foundation subjects of English Law, as identified by the professional legal bodies, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.
It introduces and builds up a critical understanding of the legal concepts regarding the ownership and co-ownership of land in England and Wales and the control of assets. Students study the system of registered and unregistered land; the rules relating to the transfer of title; and the controls on land use.
Leases, licences, mortgages, easements, restrictive freehold covenants, adverse possession, conveyancing, human rights and torts relating to property will likewise be explained and analysed.
The module aims are as follows:
1. To develop several key transferable skills including independent research, basic analysis and academic writing in the context of land law, emphasising the use of primary and secondary sources of land law;
2. To enhance student employability by the development both of these skills, and by
the practice of written (including summative) and oral communication skills (formative) activities.
Prior learning requirements
N/A
Syllabus
1. Nature and Classification of Property Rights
LO1,LO2, LO3
Legal Rights
Ownership, possession, custody/occupation
Classification of property rights
The foundation concepts of land law
Divisibility of ownership of land - tenures and estates, third party rights
The physical extent of land - airspace, substrata, fixtures
Proprietary estoppel
2. Transfers of Property Rights
LO1,LO2, LO3
The principle of assignability.
The problem of reconciling property rights with the interests of purchasers
3. Legal Title to Land
LO1,LO2, LO3
The 1925 legislation
Overreaching
Registration of title - minor and overriding interests.
An introduction to registered conveyancing.
4. Security & Restitution
LO1,LO2, LO3
Concept of Security
Land Mortgages
Creation
Rights and remedies of mortgagee
The equity of redemption
Priority of mortgages.
Other Proprietary Securities
Mortgages of personality
Equitable charges, express and implied
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Learning and Teaching Strategy
Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar.
The lecture will be used for:
Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
An introduction to relevant academic literature;
Guidance on learning strategies;
Use of Weblearn and IT resources;
Whole group questions and discussion.
The seminar will be used for:
Development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules/principles/cases;
A range of step by step writing exercises;
IT tasks such as research of cases and statutes
Problem-solving
Legal writing
Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on Weblearn for use in directed private study.
Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of Weblearn for access to all of the above materials.
There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Library, for legal research
Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp
Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto Weblearn.
Students’ Study Responsibilities
The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic precepts of land law.
2. Demonstrate the ability to discuss problem-based case studies relating to land law in the form of written exercises.
3. Demonstrate the ability to write discursive essays relating to the land law topics covered in the syllabus.
Assessment strategy
Essay (1,500 words)
Essay and/or problem-based question involving comprehension of some of the fundamental principles of land law.
Bibliography
TBC