Land Law Lecture Notes Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts in land law, focusing on definitions and important legal terms related to property rights, registration, and the social context of land ownership.

Adverse Possession

Acquiring land by simply taking possession of it, thereby obtaining rights in that land.

Freehold

An unlimited right to use land, granted by the monarch; in England, it is not ownership but a legal estate.

Leasehold

Time-limited rights to possess land, which can be of any specified length.

Conveyancing

The mechanical process of transferring rights from one person to another.

Covenant

A promise related to land regarding how it will be used, enforceable against future landowners.

Easement

A right to use land that belongs to a neighbor.

Legal Estate

A distinct category of interest in land recognized by law, such as freehold or leasehold.

Proprietary Rights

Rights in 'things' that can include rights in land or rights in personal (movable) property.

Derivative Acquisition

Acquisition of rights that are derived from a previous owner, as opposed to original acquisition.

Trust

A legal arrangement that fragments rights between a legal owner and those with equitable interests.

Land Registration Act 2002

A act that shifted from deed-based conveyancing to a system where entitlements to land are based on registration.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state; related to sovereignty over land.

Terra Nullius

A doctrine asserting that land is unowned and can thus be claimed by the one who occupies it.

ECHR Article 1 Protocol 1

A European Convention on Human Rights article that protects property rights.

Feudal System

A societal structure in land law where land ownership and rights originated from the monarch.

Possession

Control or occupancy of land which can sometimes confer rights.

Mediation of Ownership

The concept that land ownership and use are mediated by legal frameworks rather than direct ownership.

Equitable Interests

Rights in land that exist based on fair treatment and are recognized in equity.