Land law

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on land law. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
04.03.2013Co-ownership of real property
People who join together to buy real property (a house, flat, land) are known as co-owners. Typically, this may mean a couple in a relationship, whether married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, or friends, who jointly buy a property to live in. There are two ways in which two or more people may hold (own) the underlying benefit in a property - as 'beneficial joint tenants' or as 'tenants in common'.
21.12.2012Large-scale land acquisitions in developing countries - camouflage for 'land grabbing'?
Oxfam has launched a campaign on the issue of 'land-grabbing' - or what others would call 'large-scale land acquisitions' - in developing countries around the world, including by foreign governments or companies, with the World Bank primarily in its sights. This note is a brief introduction to the debate, current multilateral initiatives on the issue and the stance of the UK Government.
29.08.2012Gypsies and Travellers: unauthorised development
This note covers issues arising when Gypsies and Travellers own land but develop it without planning permission
08.05.2012Gypsies and travellers: camp sites and trespass
This note explains the law and Government policy relating to Gypsy and Traveller camps where there are accusations of trespass.

Research Papers

DateDescription
21.11.2001Land Registration Bill (HL) (Bill 48 of 2001-02)
Land Registration Bill (HL) (Bill 48 of 2001/02). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/103

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
24.11.2009LAND REGISTRY OFFICE CLOSURES
That this House expresses its concern at the announcement that five Land Registry offices are to close in Croydon, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Tunbridge Wells with the loss ...
02.11.2009JOB LOSSES AT THE LAND REGISTRY
That this House expresses its concern at the announcement that five Land Registry offices are to close in Croydon, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Tunbridge Wells with the loss ...
20.10.2009LAND AGREEMENTS EXCLUSION AND REVOCATION ORDER 2004
That this House welcomes the Government's consultation on the future of the Land Agreements Exclusion and Revocation Order 2004; further welcomes the Government's preference for the ...
21.04.2009LAND REGISTRATION (S.I., 2009, No. 845)
That the Land Registration Fee Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 845), dated 1 April 2009, a copy of which was laid before this House on 2 April, be revoked.
08.12.2008HISTORIC COUNTIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
That this House recognises that the historic counties of the United Kingdom are an important part of the history, geography and cultural life of the nation; acknowledges that the United ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library