Proprietary estoppel: Crossing the line

Andrew Vinson assesses how proprietary estoppel relates to oral contracts In all cases, the inquiry in relation to a potential proprietary estoppel is concerned with the overall result of the parties’ dealings. What is the position in which the parties would be if the court did not intervene? Proprietary estoppel is a fertile ground for …
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CICTs And Section 2: Some thoughts from the Bar

Amanda Tipples QC examines the interaction of common intention constructive trusts and proprietary estoppel in light of the decision in Matchmove v Dowding ‘For a party to succeed on a claim to enforce an oral bargain in respect of land, coupled with reliance and detriment, it needs to base its case on a common intention …
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Constructive Trusts: More than words?

The courts will sometimes give effect to oral agreements for the transfer of land. David Sawtell examines recent case law ‘The courts have afforded some considerable protection to trustees and beneficiaries of land from the inadvertent creation of informal rights over property. The unanimity principle has achieved some prominence as a consequence.’ In order to …
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Contract: A question of interpretation

Sandra Clarke examines the factors that determine a contract for the disposition of an interest in land ‘The essential terms for a valid contract to sell land are the parties, the property and the consideration.’ The recent Court of Appeal decision in Rollerteam Ltd v Riley [2016] adds to the decided cases surrounding s2(1), Law …
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Matchmove v Dowding & anr [2016] EWCA Civ 1233

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | March 2017 #167

The appellant appealed a decision regarding the enforceability of an agreement to sell a piece of land through proprietary estoppel and constructive trust notwithstanding the absence of a written contract.

F, a property developer, was the moving spirit of the appellant (M). In 2002, F began negotiations with G for the purchase of a plot of land (the land) and a meadow (the meadow). F intended to divide the land into two plots. Plot 1 and plot 2 would be sold separately. G did not want to sell until he had planning permission, which was granted in 2003.

By late 2003, a ‘comm...

Ely v Robson [2016] EWCA Civ 774

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | October 2016 #163

The defendant (D) appealed against an order of His Honour Judge Blair QC whereby he made a declaration as to the extent of the parties’ beneficial interests in a property (the property).

D met the claimant (C) in 1986. A year later, C moved with his three sons into D’s house (37 Ashley Road). That year, C also purchased the property with a mortgage and conveyed it into his sole name. D made no contribution to the purchase price.

In 1989, D purchased another property (89 Bournemouth Road). C maintained that he contributed c.£16,000 to the purchase price, but D di...

Proprietary Estoppel: A separate cause of action?

Mark Pawlowski asks whether there is scope for giving effect to informal land agreements by applying the doctrine of proprietary estoppel ‘The question remains as to whether an estoppel on its own (independently of any finding of a constructive trust) can operate so as to enforce an agreement for sale notwithstanding non-compliance with s2(1), Law …
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