LC4S040 - Property Law and Practice 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC4S040
Module Title: Property Law and Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Leane Barnes
Module Team: Benjamin Jones, Adam Collins, Hannah Menard
First Intended Intake: SEP 2019 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100689 - property law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

1. The module is designed to enable students to appreciate the nature of, identify and perform the critical steps to a domestic or commercial property transaction and in relation to freehold and leasehold property.

2. Understand and appreciate the requirements of lenders and the need to consider money laundering issues.

3. Understand the relevant tax issues including Stamp Duty Land Tax.

4.  Apply that knowledge, in conjunction, where relevant, with the Course Skills and other skills used in this module, in undertaking tasks which would be expected of a trainee solicitor in a non-contentious seat.

5. Appreciate the importance of developing commercial awareness and of knowing one’s client.

Content Summary

The module comprises 4 elements:

1. The pre- contract stage in which students should be able to take instructions and advise on client care, identify the steps arising from pre-contract enquiries and pre-contract searches, deduce and investigate title and analyse and draft the contract.

2. Students should understand when the contract becomes binding and should advise the client on the terms of any offer of finance and the method of making the contract binding.

3. After the contract is binding deal appropriately with the deposit, obtaining undertakings and insurances, draft the transfer deed and undertake the pre and post completion checks including fulfilling obligations to any mortgage lender.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 16
Seminar 32
Independent Study 152
Directed Study 48
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Total Hours Selected 250

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, skill and appreciation of a domestic or commercial property transaction relating to freehold or leasehold title.
LO2 Identify and perform the critical steps of the transactions.
LO3 Understand the requirements of lenders and the need to consider money laundering issues.
LO4 Demonstrate a sufficient grasp of the tax aspects of the property transaction, including stamp duty land tax.
LO5 Understand the key ethical requirements contained in the Solicitors Regulation Authority Principles of Regulation and Code of Conduct 2011 and understand where these may impact and be able to apply them in context.
LO6 Identify the client's objectives and different means of achieving those objectives and be aware of the client's financial and commercial priorities and well as cost implications and associated risks.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 2 Exam Part 2 60 N/A 30 No 50
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 1 Exam Part 1 150 N/A 70 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Onsite Open Book Examination 2
Onsite Open Book Examination 1

Reading List

Course materials:

Property Law and Practice Textbook

Solicitors' Code of Conduct

Recommended reading:

Abbey and Richards: A practical Guide to Conveyancing (OUP);

Abbey and Richards: Companion to Property Law and Practice (OUP);

Aldridge: Practical Conveyancing Precedents (Sweet & Maxwell); and

Megarry and Wade: The Law of Real Property (Sweet & Maxwell).

On-line resources:

Blackboard

Westlaw

Lawtel

Lexis Nexis

Practical Law Company

Laserforms

IRIS Law Business case management system

Land Registry online

HM Revenue & Customs: www.hmrc.gov.uk.

Permitted materials in assessment:

Course materials (annotated)