Supreme Court case qualifying the strict certainty requirement from Lace v Chantler. An agreement terminable only on specified grounds took effect at common law as a tenancy for life, which s.149(6) of the Law of Property Act 1925 converted into a 90-year determinable term.

The Court of Appeal held that a purchaser in actual occupation under a specifically enforceable contract can have an overriding interest under s.70(1)(g) LRA 1925.

Tulk v Moxhay established that restrictive covenants relating to land can bind successor owners in equity, even if they are not parties to the original covenant. This landmark case created the principle that equitable obligations can run with land where there is notice and the covenant is negative in nature.

Rhone v Stephens established that the burden of positive covenants cannot run with freehold land in English law. The House of Lords refused to overturn this long-standing principle, leaving reform to Parliament rather than judicial development.

A father gave his son a deed of gift for land, and the son spent money improving it in reliance on the gift. The court held the son acquired an equitable interest despite defects in the legal conveyance.

The Court of Appeal held that a charging order creates an equitable charge over land that constitutes an interest capable of protection by actual occupation.

This case established that beneficiaries with equitable interests in trust property cannot assert overriding interests against a purchaser when trustees exercise their statutory powers of sale, even if the beneficiaries are in actual occupation. The House of Lords ruled that proper consultation of trustees is sufficient to overreach beneficiary interests, protecting purchasers and the marketability of land.

Lloyds Bank v Rosset established the definitive test for determining when a person can claim a beneficial interest in property owned by another through constructive trust. The case clarified that such interests can only arise through direct contributions to purchase price or mortgage payments, or through express agreements coupled with detrimental reliance.

Established the requirement that lease terms must be certain in duration. A lease 'for the duration of the war' was held invalid for uncertainty, leaving only a weekly periodic tenancy determinable by notice.

Son who built on father's land acquired equitable interest through proprietary estoppel

Burns v Burns established that mere cohabitation and domestic contributions without financial contributions to property acquisition do not create beneficial interests under resulting or constructive trusts. The case highlighted the harsh consequences for unmarried partners who lack legal protection for property rights.

Adverse possession can succeed even when possessor knows they lack legal right.

Proprietary estoppel can create an interest in land equivalent to an estate contract

Adverse possession requires both factual possession and clear intention to possess land.

Established the three methods by which joint tenancy can be severed to create tenancy in common. The case remains the foundational authority on severance of joint tenancy in English land law.

Hill v Tupper established the fundamental principle that easements must accommodate and benefit the dominant tenement, not merely provide a personal or commercial advantage. The case demonstrates that rights which are purely personal or commercial in nature cannot constitute easements over land.

Proprietary estoppel can grant full ownership where reliance and detriment are sufficiently substantial.

Established that easements can exist for commercial purposes, specifically the right to hang an advertising sign on neighbouring property. This case broadened the scope of what constitutes an easement beyond purely domestic convenience.

Wheeldon v Burrows established the rule that when a landowner sells part of their land, certain easements that were previously used for the benefit of the sold land will automatically pass to the purchaser. This case created an important exception to the general rule that easements must be expressly granted.

Walsh v Lonsdale established that where there is an agreement to grant a lease that satisfies the requirements of equity, equity will treat the parties as if the lease had already been granted. This created the doctrine that 'equity looks on that as done which ought to be done' in landlord and tenant law.

Proprietary estoppel may fail where equity has been satisfied by acquiescence

The Court of Appeal established the fundamental principle that the burden of positive covenants cannot run with freehold land at law or in equity.

Easements acquired by prescription require use 'as of right' not actual right

The Court of Appeal held that the burden of a restrictive covenant could not run to a third party who was not an original party to the covenant, establishing important limits on covenant enforcement.

The claimant mortgaged property with a 40-year postponement of the right to redeem. The court held that equity's doctrine against clogs on the equity of redemption does not invalidate all postponements of redemption; such terms are valid unless oppressive, unconscionable, or amount to a clog. A lengthy postponement is not automatically void if freely negotiated.

Contractual licences with equity can bind third party purchasers with notice

Court creates promissory estoppel doctrine preventing landlord claiming full rent arrears

Abbey National v Cann established that a charge or mortgage created simultaneously with the acquisition of property takes priority over any overriding interest that might arise at the same moment. The case clarified that there is no 'scintilla temporis' (moment in time) between acquiring property and creating a charge over it in a single transaction.

Courts should consider entire mortgage term when granting possession adjournments to mortgagors

Courts can strike down unconscionable mortgage terms beyond traditional penalty clauses

This landmark property law case established that wives with beneficial interests in the matrimonial home can have overriding interests that bind banks, even when not registered as proprietors. The House of Lords ruled that actual occupation by a spouse can create rights that take priority over a bank's mortgage, fundamentally changing how lenders assess security.

Landowners liable for natural land movements causing neighbour damage if prevention reasonable.

House of Lords rules tenancies can exist without proprietary rights

Property rights require definiteness, identifiability, and third-party enforceability to constitute proprietary interests.

House of Lords clarifies restitution law for ultra vires local authority contracts

Proprietary estoppel creates enforceable rights where assurance induces detrimental reliance on property

Equitable mistake allows rescission where enforcement would be unconscionable despite valid contract.