Disputes in relation to the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act (“TOLATA”)

Legal ownership (as registered at HM Land Registry) may differ from the underlying beneficial interests.

Joint proprietors always hold the registered estate on trust and can do so either for themselves or for third parties. Likewise, a sole registered proprietor may hold the estate on trust for himself and third parties (or exclusively for the latter). Where there is joint legal ownership this raises a strong rebuttable presumption of joint beneficial ownership.

Parties who jointly hold land on trust for themselves can do so either as:

A trust of land may be created:

In the event of disposal of trust property the equity must be passed to those beneficially entitled. When land subject to a trust is sold the trust attaches to the net proceeds of sale. Below are a number of examples of trusts of land:-

(iv) A cohabiting couple acquire a property with the intention that it shall be occupied by them as their family home. Party A contributes towards 50% of the deposit but only Party B is registered as a proprietor because the mortgage is advanced in their sole name or so as to not otherwise prejudice Party A’s financial position. The parties do not enter into a Deed of Trust or otherwise record their beneficial entitlements. Party B as the legal owner will hold the land as trustee for both parties as beneficiaries under an implied trust. In such circumstances, a dispute may arise as to the existence and/or extent of each party’s respective share.

(v) Two sisters purchase a property for investment purposes in their joint names. Party A provided 100% of the deposit in the sum of £100,000. The parties execute a Deed of Trust recording that the first £100,000 of the net proceeds of sale be paid to party A and the balance to party A and party B in equal shares. They are both the trustees and beneficiaries of the trust holding the land as tenants in common in accordance with their respective shares. If both sisters have the right to receive income generated by the trust dispute may arise if one sister seeks to occupy the property to the exclusion of the other.

(vi) A grandparent gifts a property to a minor grandchild in their Will. Following their death the property is registered in the names of the minor grandchild’s parents who hold it as trustees for the child. Upon sale the parents would not be entitled to retain any of the net proceeds of sale as the property beneficially belongs to the child. The trust would then attach to the proceeds of sale.

Trustees are under a duty to exercise such reasonable skill and care as is necessary in all the circumstances when dealing with trust property. For the purpose of exercising their functions, trustees generally have all the powers of an absolute owner in relation to the land subject to the trust however, inter alia, so far as practicable they must consult the beneficiaries of full age entitled to an interest in possession in the land and so far as consistent with the general interest of the trust give effect to the wishes of those beneficiaries or of the majority (according to the value of their combined interests) in the event of a dispute. Trustees are constrained by the rules of equity which require that they must advance the interests of all beneficiaries without preference.

If all the beneficiaries consent and are of full age and absolutely entitled in undivided shares to land subject to the trust the trustees may partition the land or any part of it between the beneficiaries and provide for any equalization payment. Alternatively, the trustees may sell the property and account to the beneficiaries in apportionment with their respective shares.

If trust property is available and suitable a beneficiary who is entitled to an interest in possession is entitled by reason of their interest to occupy the land at any time if at that time the purposes of the trust include making the land available for his occupation or the land is held by the trustees so as to be so available.

Where two or more beneficiaries are entitled to occupy the trustees may exclude or restrict the entitlement of any one or more of them so long as such exclusion or restriction is not unreasonable. An occupying beneficiary may have conditions imposed upon him by the trustees such as to pay any outgoings or expenses in respect of the land or compensation (or occupation rent) to a beneficiary whose entitlement to occupy has been excluded or restricted. Importantly this power may not be exercised by trustees so as prevent any person who is in occupation of land from continuing to occupy the land unless they consent or the Court has given approval

If a dispute arises in relation to land held under a trust any person who is a trustee or has an interest in the subject property may make an Application to the Court for resolution of the issue/s. The Court has extensive powers to make Order in relation to a dispute concerning a trust of land (or trust of proceeds of sale of land) including but not limited to:

(i) Relieving a trustee of their obligation to obtain consent or consult;

(ii) Entitling one or more beneficiaries to occupy the property subject to any conditions as the Court deems fit;

(iii) Declaring whether a party has a beneficial interest in the property and if so the nature thereof;

(iv) Declaring the extent of a beneficiary’s interest in the land (the Court cannot alter the beneficial interests that may exist in the land);

(v) For the partition of the property;

(vi) For the sale of the property (with or without an and distribution of the net proceeds of sale;

(vii) For the sale of the property to be postponed;

In determining TOLATA claims the Court will have regard in the main to the following non-exhaustive matters:-

(i) The intentions of the person or persons (if any) who created the trust;

(ii) The purposes for which the property subject to the trust is held i.e. to provide a shared home or to secure a financial interest or make financial provision;

(iii) The welfare of any minor who occupies or might reasonably be expected to occupy any land subject to the trust as his home;

(iv) The interests of any secured creditor of any beneficiary.

(v) In a case concerning the exercise of powers relating to exclusion or restriction of a beneficiary’s entitlement to occupy the Court will also consider the circumstances and wishes of each of the beneficiaries (of full age) entitled to an interest in possession or (in the event of dispute) of the majority (according to the value of their combined interests).

TOLATA confers a wider discretion on the Court than that enjoyed by trustees as it is not constrained by the rules of equity.