Overview
Property Law examines the legal frameworks governing ownership, possession, use, transfer, and protection of property interests. The course distinguishes real and personal property, tangible and intangible assets, and possessory, legal, and equitable interests. It addresses original acquisition, possession, finders, adverse possession, estates in land, present and future interests, concurrent ownership, leases, landlord-tenant relationships, licences, easements, profits, restrictive covenants, mortgages, security interests, conveyancing, registration, title assurance, and priorities among competing claims.
Students interpret deeds and transactional instruments, apply formalities and registration requirements, and analyze the legal incidents of ownership, including boundaries, fixtures, waste, nuisance, access, and state regulation of land use. The course develops the capacity to resolve title and priority disputes and to evaluate remedies including damages, injunctions, specific performance, restitution, and recovery of possession. Constitutional, environmental, housing, Indigenous, and public-policy dimensions are considered where relevant to the legal analysis.
Learning Outcomes
- Classify real and personal property interests and distinguish possessory, legal, equitable, freehold, and leasehold rights.
- Interpret statutes, cases, deeds, leases, mortgages, conveyancing instruments, and registration records using authoritative legal methods.
- Analyze disputes involving possession, adverse possession, fixtures, boundaries, concurrent ownership, leases, easements, covenants, mortgages, and competing priorities.
- Evaluate the validity, enforceability, and transactional risks associated with property transfers and security interests.
- Apply formalities, registration requirements, and title-assurance principles to property transactions and disputes.
- Construct persuasive legal analyses that integrate precedent, legislation, constitutional principles, environmental considerations, Indigenous perspectives, housing interests, and public policy.
- Recommend appropriate remedies and risk-management strategies for clients facing property-related claims or transactions.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Case and statute analysis assignments (2 × 10%) | 20.00% |
| Quiz | Property law problem-solving quizzes (4 × 5%) | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Conveyancing and title analysis exercise | 15.00% |
| Exam | Mid-semester examination | 20.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 25.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
