By the underlying claim the appellant (the claimant at first instance) had sought a declaration as to the extent of his beneficial interest in a residential property (the property) which he and the respondent (the defendant at first instance) had purchased in joint names, having been at that time a cohabiting couple. Following a dispute, the claimant had moved out of the property only two years or so after it had initially been purchased. Prior to moving out, the claimant had contributed to the mortgage repayments in equal shares with the defendant, but had ceased to make any further con...
The claimants were the corporate trustees of two family trusts established respectively by a deed of variation relating to the will of Oliver Cutts (the 1997 trust), and by the will of Susan Cutts (the will trust). The beneficiaries of these trusts were Susan’s children, grandchildren and remoter issue who were living on or born before specified dates.
The primary asset of the trusts was Folds Farm, a farm in the New Forest in Hampshire comprising various buildings and farmland totalling almost 340 acres. The majority of the farm was within the will trust, while the 1997 trust com...
Three parcels of land known as Pleasant Rise and Pleasant Rise Farm were held on trust for the respondent and the four children of his late brother (the siblings, including the appellant). The respondent had a two-thirds interest in the largest parcel of land, a three-quarters interest in the second largest parcel of land, and a one-half interest in the smallest parcel of land. The remaining interests were held by the siblings. The properties included land upon which the appellant ran a business involving a campsite, a tennis court and other facilities.
An order for sale was sough...
The parties were in a relationship from 2006. In 2008 they acquired a property in their joint names which they held as beneficial joint tenants, which was intended for use at weekends and holidays. In 2009 the parties separated. The respondent asked the appellant not to take his new partner to the property, and he agreed. The respondent spent most weekends there until the proceedings commenced and an order for sale was made. The appellant argued that he had been excluded from the property from 2009 until 2018, and claimed occupation rent. The respondent argued the appellant had voluntari...
In 1997 the respondent and the appellant jointly purchased a property, contributing to the purchase price equally. The appellant and his family occupied the property. In 2007 the respondent was investigated for benefit fraud, and represented to the local authority that he had no beneficial interest in the property, being merely a nominal trustee for the appellant. He repeated that assertion in evidence before the Magistrates’ Court in defence of criminal charges, and later at the First-tier Tribunal in other proceedings. In March 2007 the respondent signed a form TR1 purporting to ...
This was a second appeal against the decision of HHJ Pelling to overturn the trial judge’s order declaring inter alia that A was a 50% beneficial owner of A and R’s former home (the property) under a common intention constructive trust.
The trial judge had found that A’s father had bought the property in 1998 with the intention that it should be A and R’s family home. In 2008, A’s father had transferred the property to R for nil consideration. The trial judge had found that A’s father intended A to have a beneficial interest in it and had originally planned to transfer it into A a...
The claim concerned two adjacent plots of land on Station Road, Hollingwood near Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Plot 1 and Plot 2, collectively the land). At some point before 1986 a Mr Mills, Mr Hartshorne and Mr Unwin had formed a club for railway workers (the association). Plot 1 was purchased by the three in 1986, the conveyance describing them as the trustees of the association and that they took the plot on trust for the association. In 1990 the same three purchased Plot 2. The conveyance again stated they were purchasing as trustees of an association, but the name of that association w...
Continue reading "Trusts Of Land: A creditor’s prerogative?"
The parties were previously married. In 1990, they acquired a house in London in their joint names. In April/May 2014, the wife issued an application under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (‘TLATA 1996‘) seeking an order for sale of the house, together with an order that the net proceeds be distributed between herself and her husband in equal shares. The husband contested the jurisdiction of the English court to entertain the wife’s proceedings and applied for them to be dismissed or stayed. The wife argued that England and Wales...
The claimants brought a part 8 claim for the determination of three issues in relation to a family trust of land on which was operated a family-run plant nursery business. The nursery business was operated through a limited company which was separately owned from the trust and the company paid no rent to the trust for occupation of the land. All parties to the claim were adult members of the family and comprised all of the existing beneficiaries of the trust. The fourth defendant represented the interests of potential unborn beneficiaries. The relief sought by the claimants was unopposed...