Title to Land

Question 1

Which of the following is a registrable disposition under LRA 2002, s 27(2)?
A. Transfer of a registered freehold estate
B. Grant of a short lease (≤ 7 years)
C. Creation of an equitable easement
D. Beneficial interest under a trust

Answer 1

A. Transfer of a registered freehold estate
Explanation: LRA 2002 s 27(2) lists freehold transfers as registrable dispositions

Question 2

Which event triggers compulsory first registration of unregistered land?
A. Grant of a lease exceeding seven years
B. Creation of a post-1926 restrictive covenant
C. Implied legal easement by prescription
D. Beneficial trust interest arising

Answer 2

A. Grant of a lease exceeding seven years
Explanation: First registrations occur on sale/gift of freehold, leases > 7 yrs, or first mortgages

Question 2

Which is an overriding interest under LRA 2002, Sch 3?
A. Legal lease of six years
B. Notice-protected equitable interest
C. Registered legal mortgage
D. Restriction-protected trust interest

Answer 2

A. Legal lease of six years
Explanation: Short legal leases (≤ 7 yrs) override registration checks

Question 2

Under LRA 2002, s 32, to protect an equitable lease you enter:
A. A notice on the Charges Register
B. A restriction on the Proprietorship Register
C. A caution against first registration
D. A cautionary equitable charge

Answer 2

A. A notice on the Charges Register
Explanation: Minor equitable interests (estate contracts, equitable leases) bind when a notice is entered under s 32

Question 3

To bind purchasers to a beneficial trust interest on registered land, you use:
A. A restriction on the Proprietorship Register
B. A notice on the Charges Register
C. A land charge registration
D. An overriding interest claim

Answer 3

A. A restriction on the Proprietorship Register
Explanation: Trust interests are protected by restrictions under LRA 2002 s 40

Question 4

Which of these does NOT trigger first registration of unregistered land?
A. Grant of a short lease (≤ 7 yrs)
B. Sale of unregistered freehold
C. Assignment of unregistered lease > 7 yrs
D. First legal mortgage on unregistered land

Answer 4

A. Grant of a short lease (≤ 7 yrs)
Explanation: Only long leases (> 7 yrs), freehold transfers, and first mortgages trigger compulsory registration

Question 5

Beth enters a valid estate contract for registered land and registers a notice. Owner grants a six-year lease. Beth’s contract is:
A. Overreached by the lease
B. Binding on the lessee by virtue of the notice
C. Void due to lease priority
D. Overriding interest only if occupation shown

Answer 5

B. Binding on the lessee by virtue of the notice
Explanation: Notices bind all subsequent purchasers or lessees for value

Question 6

Carl has an implied easement over registered land not on the register but obvious on inspection. Purchaser Dan is:
A. Unbound (no registration)
B. Bound as an overriding interest
C. Bound only if notice entered
D. Bound only if actual occupation

Answer 6

B. Bound as an overriding interest
Explanation: Obvious legal easements override registration checks (Schedule 3)

Question 7

Emma holds a short legal lease (5 yrs) unregistered; buyer Frank pays no attention to the register. Frank is:
A. Free from the lease
B. Bound by the lease as an overriding interest
C. Bound only if inquiry made
D. Bound only if lease protected by notice

Answer 7

B. Bound by the lease as an overriding interest
Explanation: Short leases override registration and bind purchasers

Question 8

Gina’s equitable easement is protected by entry. Buyer Harry is:
A. Free (equitable easements cannot bind)
B. Bound because notice was entered
C. Bound only if overriding
D. Bound only if actual occupation

Answer 8

B. Bound because notice was entered
Explanation: Equitable easements (minor interests) bind when notices are entered under s 32

Question 9

Iris has a beneficial interest under a trust and a restriction is entered. Buyer Jack:
A. Takes free if pays two trustees
B. Takes subject to Iris’s interest
C. Takes free if notice entered
D. Takes free as overriding interest

Answer 9

B. Takes subject to Iris’s interest
Explanation: Restrictions bind purchasers; overreaching (payment to two trustees) removes interest

Question 10

Karl grants Laura a long lease (50 yrs) by deed but does not register. Buyer Mike is:
A. Bound automatically
B. Unbound (lease void until registered)
C. Bound only if occupation obvious
D. Bound only if notice entered

Answer 10

B. Unbound (lease void until registered)
Explanation: Leases > 7 yrs are registrable dispositions and do not take effect at law until registered under LRA 2002 s 27

Question 11

Nina’s restrictive covenant (post-1926) is not registered. Buyer Oscar is:
A. Bound if he had notice
B. Unbound (void against purchaser for value)
C. Bound as overriding interest
D. Bound only if actual occupation

Answer 11

B. Unbound (void against purchaser for value)
Explanation: Post-1926 covenants must be registered as land charges or they are void against purchasers for value

Question 12

Paul has a Class C(I) land charge (second mortgage) unregistered. Buyer Quinn is:
A. Bound if notice entered
B. Unbound (void against purchaser for value)
C. Bound if the mortgagee in occupation
D. Bound only if overriding interest

Answer 12

B. Unbound (void against purchaser for value)
Explanation: Puisne (subsequent) mortgages must be registered or are void against purchasers for money

Question 13

Ruth registers an option on unregistered land within 30 days. Buyer Sam is:
A. Bound only if notice also entered
B. Bound by the land charge registration
C. Bound only if actual occupation
D. Free (options not registrable)

Answer 13

B. Bound by the land charge registration
Explanation: Estate contracts bind purchasers when entered as Class C(IV) land charges

Question 14

Tina’s pre-1926 easement is not registered. New purchaser Usha is:
A. Bound as overriding interest
B. Bound if notice entered
C. Bound only if Usha has notice (doctrine of notice)
D. Unbound (covenant expired)

Answer 14

C. Bound only if Usha has notice (doctrine of notice)
Explanation: Pre-1926 rights rely on doctrine of notice in unregistered land

Question 15

Vera buys unregistered land without reviewing deeds. She later discovers an unregistered restrictive covenant. Vera is:
A. Bound anyway (overriding)
B. Bound if she occupies
C. Unbound unless she had notice
D. Bound if covenant registered late

Answer 15

C. Unbound unless she had notice
Explanation: Unregistered covenants bind only if the purchaser has actual, constructive, or imputed notice

Question 16

Will grants Xavier a beneficial trust interest but pays proceeds to only one trustee. Yale buys. Xavier’s interest is:
A. Overreached
B. Void (trustee rule broken)
C. Binding on Yale (overreaching fails)
D. Protected by restriction

Answer 16

C. Binding on Yale (overreaching fails)
Explanation: Overreaching requires payment to two trustees or trust corporation; payment to one fails to overreach

Question 17

Zara buys registered land and discovers a right of way exercised for 2 yrs pre-purchase. That easement is:
A. Void (use < 20 yrs)
B. Equitable only
C. Overriding if used ≥ 1 yr
D. Protected by notice

Answer 17

C. Overriding if used ≥ 1 yr
Explanation: Prescriptive or implied easements override if known, obvious, or used for ≥ 1 yr before disposition

Question 18

Aaron buys unregistered land and later learns of an unregistered estate contract from 2018. He:
A. Remains bound if he had notice
B. Overcomes the contract by occupation
C. Is free (contract unregistered)
D. Bound by overriding interest

Answer 18

C. Is free (contract unregistered)
Explanation: Unregistered estate contracts are void against purchasers for value unless registered as land charges

Question 19

Beth holds a Class F spouse’s right of occupation unregistered. Charles buys. Beth’s right:
A. Overriding interest
B. Protected by notice
C. Binding if actual occupation
D. Void (land charge unregistered)

Answer 19

C. Binding if actual occupation
Explanation: Spouse’s right of occupation binds if spouse in occupation at sale (Schedule 3 exception)

Question 20

Dylan grants Emily a right of way in deed but Emily fails to register notice. Fiona buys. Emily’s right is:
A. Overriding (legal easement)
B. Void (no notice)
C. Overreached
D. Protected as an overriding interest if known or obvious

Answer 20

D. Protected as an overriding interest if known or obvious
Explanation: Express legal easements override registration if known or obvious

Question 21

George grants Hannah a restrictive covenant and registers it on the Charges Register after 31 days. Buyer Ian:
A. Bound (late registration excused)
B. Bound if Ian had notice
C. Bound if Hannah in occupation
D. Free (late land charge registration void)

Answer 21

D. Free (late land charge registration void)
Explanation: Land charges must be registered within 30 days or are void against purchasers for value

Question 22

Julia sells registered land subject to a short lease but fails to mention it. Kevin buys. The lease is:
A. Void (secret lease)
B. Equitable only
C. Protected by notice
D. Overriding as it is a short legal lease

Answer 22

D. Overriding as it is a short legal lease
Explanation: Short leases (≤ 7 yrs) override the register even if undisclosed

Question 23

Liam holds an equitable easement created post-1926 but does not enter a notice. Mary buys. The easement is: A. Equitable only B. Overriding interest C. Binding if Mary had notice D. Void (unregistered minor interest)

Answer 23

D. Void (unregistered minor interest) Explanation: Equitable easements require notice entry or are void against purchasers for value

Question 24

Nora buys unregistered land. She later finds a second legal mortgage unregistered. The second mortgage is: A. Overriding interest B. Protected by notice C. Binding if Nora had notice D. Void (Land Charges Register entry required)

Answer 24

D. Void (Land Charges Register entry required) Explanation: Subsequent legal mortgages (Class C(I)) must be registered or are void against purchasers for value

Question 25

Owen grants Patricia an implied easement under s 62 via conveyance but does not register. Quentin buys. The easement is: A. Void (no registration) B. Equitable only C. Binding if Quentin had notice D. Overriding if obvious on inspection

Answer 25

D. Overriding if obvious on inspection Explanation: Implied legal easements override if obvious or known at disposition

Question 26

Rachel has a Class D(III) land charge (equitable easement) unregistered. Steve buys. Rachel’s easement is: A. Overriding interest B. Protected by notice laterentered C. Binding if Steve had notice D. Void (unregistered land charge)

Answer 26

D. Void (unregistered land charge) Explanation: Post-1926 equitable easements (Class D(III)) must be registered as land charges within 30 days or are void

Question 27

Tracy buys registered land. She discovers a beneficial trust interest but no restriction was entered. Tracy: A. Is bound if Tracy had notice B. Overreaches the interest C. Is bound if interest-holder in occupation D. Takes free (restriction unentered)

Answer 27

D. Takes free (restriction unentered) Explanation: Trust beneficiaries’ interests bind only if restriction entered under s 40; without it, purchaser takes free

Question 28

Uma contracts to purchase unregistered land but fails to register the land charge for her option. Vendor sells to Victor. Uma’s option is: A. Binding if Uma had notice B. Overreaching fails C. Binding if Uma in occupation D. Void (land charge unregistered)

Answer 28

D. Void (land charge unregistered) Explanation: Estate contracts must be registered as Class C(IV) land charges within 30 days or are void against purchasers for money

Question 29

The “Mirror Principle” in registered land means: A. The register reflects all legal and equitable interests (except limited overriding interests) B. Equitable interests lie behind a “curtain” and need not appear on the register C. The State insures the accuracy of the register D. Purchasers must “mirror” the seller’s title deeds

Answer 29

A. The register reflects all legal and equitable interests (except limited overriding interests) Explanation: Under LRA 2002 the register is intended to “mirror” the state of title, subject only to the small category of overriding interests

Question 30

The “Curtain Principle” provides that: A. Equitable interests under trusts lie behind the register and need not be investigated by purchasers B. All interests must be entered on the Charges Register C. Buyers must inspect title deeds (“lift the curtain”) D. Overriding interests are hidden from the register

Answer 30

A. Equitable interests under trusts lie behind the register and need not be investigated by purchasers Explanation: Trust beneficiaries’ interests are “behind the curtain”—purchasers rely on the register and need not enquire into trust details

Question 31

The “Insurance Principle” in registered land means: A. Purchasers must insure against adverse interests B. The State guarantees the accuracy of the register and compensates loss from errors C. Insurance policies must be lodged with the Land Registry D. Overriding interests are insured against

Answer 31

B. The State guarantees the accuracy of the register and compensates loss from errors Explanation: LRA 2002 s 23 provides state-backed compensation for those suffering loss due to mistakes in the register

Question 32

Under s 29, a registrable disposition for valuable consideration takes priority over all other interests except: A. Land Charges entries B. Cautions against first registration C. Interests protected by notice or restriction and overriding interests D. Unregistered legal leases

Answer 32

C. Interests protected by notice or restriction and overriding interests Explanation: Section 29(1) ensures that properly registered dispositions for value rank ahead of unprotected interests; only notice/restriction entries and overriding interests can cut in ahead

Question 33

Before purchasing unregistered land, a buyer must search: A. Only the most recent two Land Charges Register entries B. The Proprietorship Register of HM Land Registry C. The Charges Register of registered land D. The Cautions Register and Land Charges Register under all historic owner names

Answer 33

D. The Cautions Register and Land Charges Register under all historic owner names Explanation: Buyers of unregistered land must search for cautions against first registration and land charges against all names back to 1926 to discover unregistered equitable interests