Inwards v Baker
A son who built a bungalow on his father's land at his father's suggestion was entitled to live there for as long as he wished.
Facts
Mr Baker wanted to buy land to build a bungalow, but could not afford it. His father suggested that he build the bungalow on the father's land instead. The son did so, largely at his own expense and with his own labour, and lived there for many years. The father died, leaving the land in his will to other people, who later sought possession of the bungalow from the son.
Legal principle
The Court of Appeal held that the son was entitled to remain in the bungalow for as long as he wished. Lord Denning MR said that, where a person expends money on the land of another in the expectation, induced or encouraged by the owner of the land, that he will be allowed to remain there, that raises an equity in the licensee such as to entitle him to stay. The equity was binding on the trustees of the father's will, who were not purchasers for value. The court has flexibility in deciding how the equity should be satisfied.
Related cases on contracts for land and proprietary estoppel
- Cobbe v Yeoman's Row Management Ltd [2008] UKHL 55, [2008] 1 WLR 1752
- Crabb v Arun District Council [1976] Ch 179
- Davies v Davies [2016] EWCA Civ 463
- Dillwyn v Llewelyn (1862) 4 De GF & J 517
- Firstpost Homes Ltd v Johnson [1995] 1 WLR 1567
- Gillett v Holt [2001] Ch 210
- Guest v Guest [2022] UKSC 27
- Habberfield v Habberfield [2019] EWCA Civ 890
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