module specification

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 and conveyancing will likewise be introduced and analysed. The topics of adverse possession, human rights and torts relating to property provide students with the opportunity to engage with critical enquiry into the experiences of some of society’s disadvantaged groups, clearly facilitating improvement in social justice by education.

Each week the module will focus on a specific aspect of land law that will be taught via an explanation and analysis of the relevant legal principles and statutory rules. This is supplemented by a weekly seminar which requires application of the relevant law to problem-solving questions and essay topics. (LO1, LO2, LO3)

Outside the classroom, it is essential that students study independently by reading the core texts from the reading list. They should also continue to participate on Weblearn via discussion boards and a wider range of activities, including reading of current literature and updates in the law. (LO1, LO2)

Some seminar sessions will also involve group research presentation tasks, which requires peer review. This improves written and oral communication skills and fosters a sense of community in the classroom, alongside developing critical thinking and reflective learning. (LO1, LO2)

Students must produce both formative and summative assessments to deadlines set during the course to be successful. This also encourages students to learn professional practice in meeting deadlines on time. (LO1, LO3)

The module aims are:

1. You will 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. You will experience enhanced student employability through the practice of written (including summative and formative) and oral communication skills (seminar) activities.
3. You will be immersed in an accessible curriculum that places students at the heart of the learning experience.
4. You will see yourself reflected in the curriculum by embracing and developing diverse perspectives.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

N/A

1.  Nature and Classification of Property Rights

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

The principle of assignability.
The problem of reconciling property rights with the interests of purchasers

3. Legal Title to Land

The 1925 legislation
Overreaching
Registration of title - minor and overriding interests.
An introduction to registered conveyancing.

4. Security & Restitution

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

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

Learning & 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 the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing;
• Oral presentation;
• Oral communication;
• Teamwork.

Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on blackboard 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.

Employability
Employability strategy will aim to acquaint students with a range of employment avenues both in the legal profession and in those professions into which legal qualifications and skills are transferable.

Student’s 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.

On successful completion of this module, you 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.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B9A1C884-A03F-3CC7-1D9F-F2CB9B393284.html
Core texts:
• Martin Dixon, Modern Land Law 13th edn., 2023.
• April Stroud, Making Sense of Land Law, 5th edn., 2018.
• Ben McFarlane; Nicholas S. Hopkins; Sarah Nield, Land Law: Text Cases and materials, 6th edn. 2024.
• Robert Megarry; William Wade, The Law of Real Property, 10th edn., 2024.

Additional texts:
• Land law: Text, Cases, and Materials, by Ben McFarlane; Nicholas S. Hopkins; Sarah Nield, 2024, 6th edition
• Blackstone's statutes on property law: 2025-2026, edited by Meryl Thomas, 2025, 33rd edition

DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK