OpenLegislation

Law of Property Act 1925

15 & 16 Geo. 5 c. 20 · Enacted 9 April 1925 · Extends to England and Wales

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 84excludedPlanning (Wales) Act 2026 s. 167(10)
s. 52(2)(dc)(dd)insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 1(2)
s. 52(3)word substitutedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 1(3)(a)
s. 52(3)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 1(3)(b)

X1I1C1C2C3C4C5C6C7An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to conveyancing and the law of property in England and Wales.

[9th April 1925]C8

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: 1964 c. 63 to be construed as one with this Act by virtue of 1964 c. 63, s. 4(1)

C2

Act applied by Land Registration Act 1925 (c. 21), ss. 36, 38, 69(3); and S.R. & O. 1925/1093 (Rev. XII, p. 81: 1925, p. 717)

Act applied by Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1941 (c. 50), s. 8(4)

Act applied by Finance Act 1949 (c. 47), s. 40(4)(b)

Act applied by Highways Act 1959 (c. 25), s. 81(3)

Act applied by Housing Act 1964 (c. 56), s. 80(5)

Act applied by Building Act 1984 (c. 55, SIF 15), s. 107(2)

Act applied (1.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 69(3); S.I. 1993/2134, arts. 25

Act applied (5.1.1994) by 1990 c. 43, s. 81A(8) (as inserted (5.1.1994) by 1993 c. 40, ss. 10(2), 12(1)(2)

Act applied (21.9.1995 for E. specified purposes and 1.4.2000 for E. in so far as not already in force and 14.9.2001 for W.) by 1990 c. 43, s. 78P(11) (as inserted 21.9.1995 for E. specified purposes and 1.4.2000 for E. in so far as not already in force and 14.9.2001 for W.) by 1995 c. 25, s. 57 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 2000/340, art. 2; S.I. 2001/3211, art. 2(a)

Act applied (17.12.1996) by 1996 c. 53, s. 88(5)(b); S.I. 1996/2842, art. 3

Act applied (1.1.1997) by 1996 c. 47, s. 23(2) (with ss. 24(2), 25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art. 2

Act applied (19.9.2007) by the London Local Authorities Act 2007 (c. ii), s. 77(2)

C3

Act extended by Public Health Act 1936 (c. 49), s. 291(4)

C4

Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3

C5

Definition of "trust for sale" in this Act applied (25.9.1991) by Land Compensation Act 1961 (c. 33, SIF 28:1), Sch. 3 para. 7(4) (as added by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 28:1), s. 66, Sch. 14 para. 2; S.I. 1991/2067, art. 3)

Definition of "conveyance" in this Act applied (1.12.1991) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 182, 225(2), Sch. 23 para. 7(1)

Definition of "convey" in this Act applied (19.12.1991) by Commercial and Private Bank Act 1991 (c. xxii), s. 11(7)

C6

Act (except s. 75) amended (1.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2684, arts. 2, 4, Sch. 1

C7

Act applied (1.3.2009 with application as mentioned in reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/153), reg. 27(8)

C8

Act applied (4.11.2024) by Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), ss. 146(5), 212(2) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(b)

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at 1.1.1926, see s. 209(2)

Editorial notes

X1

A dagger appended to a marginal note means that it is no longer accurate

Contents

  1. Part I: General Principles as to Legal Estates, Equitable Interests and Powers
  2. 1Legal estates and equitable interests.
  3. 2Conveyances overreaching certain equitable interests and powers.
  4. 3Manner of giving effect to equitable interests and powers.
  5. 4Creation and disposition of equitable interests.
  6. 5Satisfied terms, whether created out of freehold or leasehold land to cease.
  7. 6Saving of lessors’ and lessees’ covenants.
  8. 7Saving of certain legal estates and statutory powers.
  9. 8Saving of certain legal powers to lease.
  10. 9Vesting orders and dispositions of legal estates operating as conveyances by an estate owner.
  11. 10Title to be shown to legal estates.
  12. 11Registration in Middlesex and Yorkshire as respects legal estates.
  13. 12Limitation and Prescription Acts.
  14. 13Effect of possession of documents.
  15. 14Interests of persons in possession.
  16. 15Presumption that parties are of full age.
  17. Death Duties
  18. 16–18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. Infants and Lunatics
  20. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  21. 20Infants not to be appointed trustees.
  22. 21Receipts by married infants.
  23. 22Conveyances on behalf of persons suffering from mental disorder and as to land held by them in trust.
  24. . . .
  25. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. Trusts of land
  27. 24Appointment of trustees of land.
  28. 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  30. 27Purchaser not to be concerned with the trusts of the proceeds of sale which are to be paid to two or more trustees or to a trust corporation.
  31. 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  32. 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  33. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  34. 31Trust of mortgaged property where right of redemption is barred.
  35. 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  36. 33Application of Pt. I. to personal representatives.
  37. Undivided Shares and Joint Ownership
  38. 34Effect of future dispositions to tenants in common.
  39. 35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  40. 36Joint tenancies.
  41. 37Rights of husband and wife.
  42. 38Party structures.
  43. Transitional Provisions
  44. 39Transitional provisions in First Schedule.
  45. Part II: Contracts, Conveyances and other Instruments
  46. Contracts
  47. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 41Stipulations not of the essence of a contract.
  49. 42Provisions as to contracts.
  50. 43Rights protected by registration.
  51. 44Statutory commencements of title.
  52. 45Other statutory conditions of sale.
  53. 46Forms of contracts and conditions of sale.
  54. 47Application of insurance money on completion of a sale or exchange.
  55. 48Stipulations preventing a purchaser, lessee, or underlessee from employing his own solicitor to be void.
  56. 49Applications to the court by vendor and purchaser.
  57. 50Discharge of incumbrances by the court on sales or exchanges.
  58. Conveyances and other Instruments
  59. 51Lands lie in grant only.
  60. 52Conveyances to be by deed.
  61. 53Instruments required to be in writing.
  62. 54Creation of interests in land by parol.
  63. 55Savings in regard to last two sections.
  64. 56Persons taking who are not parties and as to indentures.
  65. 57Description of deeds.
  66. 58Provisions as to supplemental instruments.
  67. 59Conditions and certain covenants not implied.
  68. 60Abolition of technicalities in regard to conveyances and deeds.
  69. 61Construction of expressions used in deeds and other instruments.
  70. 62General words implied in conveyances.
  71. 63All estate clause implied.
  72. 64Production and safe custody of documents.
  73. 65Reservation of legal estates.
  74. 66Confirmation of past transactions.
  75. 67Receipt in deed sufficient.
  76. 68Receipt in deed or indorsed evidence.
  77. 69Receipt in deed or indorsed authority for payment to solicitor.
  78. 70Partial release of security from rentcharge.
  79. 71Release of part of land affected from a judgment.
  80. 72Conveyances by a person to himself, &c.
  81. 73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  82. 74Execution of instruments by or on behalf of corporations.
  83. 74AExecution of instrument as a deed
  84. 75Rights of purchaser as to execution.
  85. Covenants
  86. 76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  87. 77Implied covenants in conveyances subject to rents.
  88. 78Benefit of covenants relating to land.
  89. 79Burden of covenants relating to land.
  90. 80Covenants binding land.
  91. 81Effect of covenant with two or more jointly.
  92. 82Covenants and agreements entered into by a person with himself and another or others.
  93. 83Construction of implied covenants.
  94. 84Power to discharge or modify restrictive covenants affecting land.
  95. Part III: Mortgages, Rentcharges, and Powers of Attorney
  96. Mortgages
  97. 85Mode of mortgaging freeholds.
  98. 86Mode of mortgaging leaseholds.
  99. 87Charges by way of legal mortgage.
  100. 88Realisation of freehold mortgages.
  101. 89Realisation of leasehold mortgages.
  102. 90Realisation of equitable charges by the court.
  103. 91Sale of mortgaged property in action for redemption or foreclosure.
  104. 92Power to authorise land and minerals to be dealt with separately.
  105. 93Restriction on consolidation of mortgages.
  106. 94Tacking and further advances.
  107. 95Obligation to transfer instead of re-conveying, and as to right to take possession.
  108. 96Regulations respecting inspection, production and delivery of documents, and priorities.
  109. 97Priorities as between puisne mortgages.
  110. 98Actions for possession by mortgagors.
  111. 99Leasing powers of mortgagor and mortgagee in possession.
  112. 100Powers of mortgagor and mortgagee in possession to accept surrenders of leases.
  113. 101Powers incident to estate or interest of mortgagee.
  114. 102Provision as to mortgages of undivided shares in land.
  115. 103Regulation of exercise of power of sale.
  116. 104Conveyance on sale.
  117. 105Application of proceeds of sale.
  118. 106Provisions as to exercise of power of sale.
  119. 107Mortgagee’s receipts, discharges, &c.
  120. 108Amount and application of insurance money.
  121. 109Appointment, powers, remuneration and duties of receiver.
  122. 110Effect of bankruptcy of the mortgagor on the power to sell or appoint a receiver.
  123. 111Effect of advance on joint account.
  124. 112Notice of trusts on transfer of mortgage. Repealed
  125. 113Notice of trusts affecting mortgage debts.
  126. 114Transfers of mortgages.
  127. 115Reconveyances of mortgages by endorsed receipts.
  128. 116Cesser of mortgage terms.
  129. 117Forms of statutory legal charges.
  130. 118Forms of statutory transfers of legal charges.
  131. 119Implied covenants, joint and several.
  132. 120Form of discharge of statutory mortgage or charge.
  133. Rentcharges
  134. 120AInterpretation
  135. 120BRegulated rentcharges: notice of arrears before enforcement
  136. 120CService of notice under section 120B: additional requirement
  137. 120DRegulated rentcharge arrears: administration charges
  138. 121Remedies for the recovery of annual sums charged on land.
  139. 122Creation of rentcharges charged on another rentcharge and remedies for recovery thereof.
  140. 122AContrary provision of no effect
  141. Powers of Attorney
  142. 123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  143. 124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  144. 125†Powers of attorney relating to land to be filed.
  145. 126–129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  146. Part IV: Equitable Interests and things in Action
  147. 130. . . Entailed interests in real and personal property.
  148. 131Abolition of the rule in Shelley’s case.
  149. 132As to heirs taking by purchase.
  150. 133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  151. 134Restriction on executory limitations.
  152. 135Equitable waste.
  153. 136Legal assignments of things in action.
  154. 137Dealings with life interests, reversions and other equitable interests.
  155. 138Power to nominate a trust corporation to receive notices.
  156. Part V: Leases and Tenancies
  157. 139Effect of extinguishment of reversion.
  158. 140Apportionment of conditions on severance.
  159. 141Rent and benefit of lessee’s covenants to run with the reversion.
  160. 142Obligation of lessor’s covenants to run with reversion.
  161. 143Effect of licences granted to lessees.
  162. 144No fine to be exacted for licence to assign.
  163. 145Lessee to give notice of ejectment to lessor.
  164. 146Restrictions on and relief against forfeiture of leases and underleases.
  165. 147Relief against notice to effect decorative repairs.
  166. 148Waiver of a covenant in a lease.
  167. 149Abolition of interesse termini, and as to reversionary leases and leases for lives.
  168. 150Surrender of a lease, without prejudice to underleases with a view to the grant of a new lease.
  169. 151Provision as to attornments by tenants.
  170. 152Leases invalidated by reason of non-compliance with terms of powers under which they are granted.
  171. 153Enlargement of residue of long terms into fee simple estates.
  172. 154Application of Part V. to existing leases.
  173. Part VI: Powers
  174. 155Release of powers simply collateral.
  175. 156Disclaimer of power.
  176. 157Protection of purchasers claiming under certain void appointments.
  177. 158Validation of appointments where objects are excluded or take illusory shares.
  178. 159Execution of powers not testamentary.
  179. 160Application of Part VI. to existing powers.
  180. Part VII: Perpetuities and Accumulations
  181. Perpetuities
  182. 161Abolition of the double possibility rule.
  183. 162Restrictions on the perpetuity rule. Repealed
  184. 163. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  185. Accumulations
  186. 164General restrictions on accumulation of income. Repealed
  187. 165Qualification of restrictions on accumulation. Repealed
  188. 166Restriction on accumulation for the purchase of land. Repealed
  189. Part VIII: Married Women and Lunatics
  190. 167–170. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  191. 171. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  192. Part IX: Voidable Dispositions
  193. 172. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  194. 173Voluntary disposition of land how far voidable as against purchasers.
  195. 174Acquisitions of reversions at an under value.
  196. Part X: Wills
  197. 175Contingent and future testamentary gifts to carry the intermediate income.
  198. 176Power for tenant in tail in possession to dispose of property by specific devise or bequest.
  199. 177. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  200. 178. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  201. 179Prescribed forms for reference in wills.
  202. Part XI: Miscellaneous
  203. Miscellaneous
  204. 180Provisions as to corporations.
  205. 181Dissolution of a corporation.
  206. 182Protection of solicitor and trustees adopting Act.
  207. 183Fraudulent concealment of documents and falsification of pedigrees.
  208. 184Presumption of survivorship in regard to claims to property.
  209. 185Merger.
  210. 186Rights of pre-emption capable of release.
  211. 187Legal easements.
  212. 188Power to direct division of chattels.
  213. 189Indemnities against rents.
  214. Redemption and Apportionment of Rents, &c.
  215. 190Equitable apportionment of rents and remedies for non-payment or breach of covenant.
  216. 191. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  217. 192Apportionment of charges payable for redemption of tithe rentcharge.
  218. Commons and Waste Lands
  219. 193Rights of the public over commons and waste lands.
  220. 194Restrictions on inclosure of commons. Repealed
  221. Judgments, &c. affecting Land
  222. 195Equitable charges in right of judgment debt, &c.
  223. Notices
  224. 196Regulations respecting notices.
  225. 197Notice of memorials registered in Middlesex and Yorkshire.
  226. 198Registration under the Land Charges Act, 1925, to be notice.
  227. 199Restrictions on constructive notice.
  228. 200Notice of restrictive covenants and easements.
  229. Part XII: Construction, Jurisdiction, and General Provisions
  230. 201Provisions of Act to apply to incorporeal hereditaments.
  231. 202Provisions as to enfranchisement of copyholds, &c.
  232. 203Payment into court, jurisdiction and procedure.
  233. 204Orders of court conclusive.
  234. 205General definitions.
  235. 206Forms of instruments and examples of abstracts. Repealed
  236. 207Repeals as respects England and Wales.
  237. 208Application to the Crown.
  238. 209Short title, commencement, and extent.
  239. Schedule FIRST: Transitional Provisions
  240. IConversion of certain existing Legal Estates into Equitable Interests
  241. Part II: Vesting of Legal Estates
  242. 1Paragraph 1
  243. 2Paragraph 2
  244. 3Paragraph 3
  245. 4Paragraph 4
  246. 5Paragraph 5
  247. 6Paragraph 6
  248. 7Paragraph 7
  249. 8Paragraph 8
  250. 9Paragraph 9
  251. Part III: Provisions as to Legal Estate vested in Infant
  252. 1Paragraph 1
  253. 2Paragraph 2
  254. 3Paragraph 3
  255. 3AParagraph 3A
  256. 4Paragraph 4
  257. 5Paragraph 5
  258. Part IV: Provisions subjecting Land held in Undivided Shares to a Trust for Sale
  259. 1Paragraph 1
  260. 2Paragraph 2
  261. 3Paragraph 3
  262. 4Paragraph 4
  263. Part V: Provisions as to Party Structures and Open Spaces
  264. 1Paragraph 1
  265. 2Paragraph 2
  266. 3Paragraph 3
  267. VIConversion of Tenancies by entireties into Joint Tenancies
  268. Part VII: Conversion of existing Freehold Mortgages into Mortgages by Demise
  269. 1Paragraph 1
  270. 2Paragraph 2
  271. 3Paragraph 3
  272. 4Paragraph 4
  273. 5Paragraph 5
  274. 6Paragraph 6
  275. 7Paragraph 7
  276. 8Paragraph 8
  277. Part VIII: Conversion of existing Leasehold Mortgages into Mortgages by subdemise
  278. 1Paragraph 1
  279. 2Paragraph 2
  280. 3Paragraph 3
  281. 4Paragraph 4
  282. 5Paragraph 5
  283. 6Paragraph 6
  284. 7Paragraph 7
  285. 8Paragraph 8
  286. Schedule SECOND: Implied Covenants
  287. IPart I
  288. IIPart II
  289. IIIPart III
  290. IVPart IV
  291. VPart V
  292. VIPart VI
  293. VIICovenant implied in a Conveyance for valuable consideration, other than a Mortgage, of the Entirety of Land affected by a Rentcharge
  294. VIIICovenants implied in a Conveyance for valuable Consideration, other than a Mortgage, or Part of Land affected by a Rentcharge, subject to a Part (not legally apportioned) of that Rentcharge
  295. IXCovenant in a Conveyance for valuable Consideration, other than a Mortgage, of the Entirety of the Land comprised in a Lease for the Residue of the Term or Interest created by the Lease
  296. XCovenants implied in a Conveyance for valuable Consideration, other than a Mortgage, or Part of the Land comprised in a Lease, for the Residue of the Term or Interest created by the Lease, subject to a Part (not legally apportioned) of that Rent
  297. Schedule THIRDForms of Transfer and Discharge of Mortgages
  298. Schedule FOURTH: Forms relating to Statutory Charges or Mortgages of Freehold or Leasehold Land
  299. Paragraph Repealed
  300. Schedule FIFTHForms of Instruments
  301. Schedule SIXTHEpitomes of Abstracts of Title
  302. Schedule SEVENTHSchedule SEVENTH