A positive covenant may not pass in equity from RHONE v STEPHENS
2) Must accommodate the dominant land:
Original covenatee was owner of the
benefitted land when covenant granted
The dominant and servient
tenements must have enjoyed
sufficient proximity
Proximity test from FORMBY v BARKER -
covenants binding land in Hampstead too
remote to benefit land in Clapham!!
Original parties must of intended burden to run
with land, either expressly in deed or impliedly.
s79 LPA following case of FEDERATED
HOMES v MILL LODGE PROPERTIES
3) Burden of the covenant must have
been intended by both parties to run with
servient land. Expressly or impliedly!
REGISTRATION OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
In many cases even if all conditions are
met, will only bind successor if registered
Pre 1926 - Doctrine of Notice
Post 1926 - Unregistered land needs land
charge. Registered land by way of notice
If not registered, void for BFP (Cannot be an
overriding interest in registered land)
Step 4 - Running of benefit in equity
Benefit will pass in equity if it touches and
concerns the land
Or the benefit
passes by:
Annexation;
Assignment or
under a
Building
Scheme
Covenant touch & concern the land from
SMITH & SNIPES HALL FARM v RIVER
DOUGLAS CATCHMENT BOARD
Annexation - Expressly: where words of
covenant show that benefit was intended
to pass to new owners of DT
Or impliedly: s78 LPA when covenant relates to the
land, benefit will be annexed to DT, unless evidence to
the contrary. FEDERATED HOMES v MILL LODGE
PROPERTIES
Assignment - Unless covenant is annexed to land
will remain separate from it. For benefit to pass
must be an express assignment of covenant
Assignment must be at same time as
transfer of the land, usually within transfer
deed - ROAKE v CHADHA
Required with every sale
or purchase of the land
Building scheme - when a scheme exists,
benefit and burden of covenants will pass
with land
Requirements in ELLISTON v REACHER
Must be a common vendor
Estate must be laid out in plots before selling
Restrictions must benefit all the lots
Parties will have purchased on basis that covenants
enforceable by all other purchasers in same scheme
Area of the scheme is clearly defined
REMEDIES at CL
If able to prove benefit and burden, could only claim
damages, court does not have discretion
In Equity - If able to prove benefit and burden
may be able to claim, Injunction (Restrictive);
Specific Performance (Positive) or Damages
Damages would only be awarded when: Injury to claimants rights is
small; the damage can be estimated in money; damage can be
adequately compensated with small payment or injunction would be
too oppressive
Discharge of Covenants as they can become outdated
Express Discharge - will the
benefitted owner agree to the
discharge?
Unity of Seisin - if you buy
both the benefitted and
burdened property
S84 LPA - Covenants discharged
forcibly. ie formerly residential area
s28 LPA - Enforced by tribunal
Reform Proposals
At present: person who
agreed to covenant has
contract and can be
sued.
Even if they no longer live at the property
Introduction of a 'land obligation' binding on successors
Would no longer be enforceable
against original covenantor
These land obligations would
be positive and negative
Would be registrable
Moving towards the covenant being to
the property and not the current owner