LLB102 Lecture 2: TRESPASS TO LAND AND TRESPASS DEFENCES AND REMEDIES
WEEK$2!LECTURE:(TRESPASS'TO'LAND'AND'TRESPASS'DEFENCES'AND'
REMEDIES!
Trespass!to!Land!!
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Trespass' to' land' is' a' direct' interference' with' land' in' the' possession' of' another,' without' lawful'
justification'or'the'occupier’s'consent.'
- Physical'intrusion'onto'plaintiffs'land'(direct)'
o E.g.' walking' into' someone’s' property' without' consent;' throwing' tree' branches' into'
neighbours'yard'
- If'not'a'physical'intrusion,'not'adequate'as'trespass,'rather,'it'would'be'treated'as'an'action'on'
the'case'i.e.'nuisance'->'noisy,'smelly'foods'(indirect'interferences)'
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Elements:'
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(1) Title'to'sue'
(2) A'direct!unauthorised'interference'with'land'
(3) Fault'of'the'defendant'
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Title!to!Sue!'
- Exclusive'possession'of'the'land'(at'the'time'of'interference)'
o Right'to'exclude'others'
- Protects'possession,'occupation'of'land'not'necessarily'ownership'
In'!"#$%&'()&*+*,%&-#.#/,''
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The'plaintiffs'sued'in'trespass'to'land'and'were'successful,'even'though'they'were'not'the'owners'of'
the'land'being'trespassed'upon.'The'evidence'was'that'there'was'a'vacant'land'behind'their'estate'
and' they' had'told' people' “you’re' not' allowed' here,' you’re' trespassing' onto' private'property”.' They'
had' employed' someone' to' maintain' shrubs' etc.' Court' held,' they' were' not' the' owners/' legally'
registered'to'the'land'but'they'were'considered'to'be'in'possession'of'the'land.'Therefore,'they'had'
title'to'sue'in'trespass.''
- There'was'a'0/%12*324%#'of'ownership'that'is,'the'appearance'of'ownership'where'one'exhibits'
the'act'of'ownership'
- NOT'based'on'ownership'(legal'registration)'
o If'the'owner'is'in'possession'or'property,'they'would'have'title'to'sue'
- Tenant'has'actual'exclusive'possession.'
o Under'the'law'of'contract'stioulates'that'you'have'the'right'to'exclude'others'including'
the'landlord'
o Can' actually' sue' the' landlord' if' they' trespass' (don’t' comply' with' propert' inspection'
times'etc.)'
o Under'contract,'they'are'in'possession'as'they'are'in'possession'
§ 5#67#&*+*810#/%26*9):244)*;)*'
- Licensee'does'not'have'title'to'sue.'
o Not'named'as'a'legal'tenant'
o Mere'licensees'do'not'have'exclusive'possession'of'property'therefore'they'do'not'have'
title'to'sue'
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In',#7(#/&*<=7(/26%2*+*,2/-,'
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“In'contrast'to'a'lease,'a'licence'to'use'land'ordinarily'confers'a'personal'right'that'is'enforceable'in'
contract'but'not'in'an'action'in'trespass'
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- Trespass'by'relation'
o It'is'possible'that'the'plaintiff'has'the' right'to'possession' of'the'land' but'not'in'actual'
possession'at'time'of'the'trespass'
o Court' allows' the' plaintiff' who' has' the' right' of' possession' but' takes' possession' of' a'
property'at'a'later'date'to'sue'for'trespass'after'that'right'to'possession'arose'
§ Plaintiff'may'bring'an'action'in'trespass'for'interferences'between'time'right'of'
possession'arose'and'actual'taking'of'possession.'
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Example:'Leases'premises''
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Upon' the' lease' coming' to' the' end,' the'Landlord' gets' the' right' to' posses' the' lessee’s'
premises.' The' legal' tenant' looses' their' exclusive' possession' as' they' are' vacating' the'
premises'so'the'lessee'has'the'right'of'possession.'If'the'Lessee'does'not'move'out'straight'
away'and'are'staying'for'an'extra'month'and'in'that'extra'month'a'trespass'occurs.'Under'
the' trespass' by' relation' doctrine,' the' landlord' can' sue' for' the' trespass' that' took' place'
because'at' that' time' they' had' a' right' to' possession' even' though' they' were' not' in'actual'
possession.' The' law' will' trace' that' right' of' possession' back' to' give' them' title'to' sue' in'
trespass.''
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The!interference'
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- Must'be'a'direct'interference'
- Must'be'an'interference'with'land''
- Must'be'unauthorised''
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Direct'Interference''
- Trespass'action'therefore,'has'to'be'direct'
- Interference'is'the'immediate'consequence'
o Throw'a'rock'(direct)'
o Walk'up'a'driveway'(direct)'
o Enter'a'building'(direct)'
-' If' a' rock' fence' falls' over' time' and' falls' onto' neighbour’s'property,' it' is' indirect' as' it' was' not' an'
immediate' consequence.' Similarly,' if' tree' roots' grow' across' property' boundary' it' would' be' an'
indirect'interferenceà'actionable'by'nuisance.'''
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What'is'“land”?'
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;=%7*#7(*7)6=1*#%=7*#7(*=7>=#*27*4)#6=1*#(*2-*%&3#/)7?*
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Translates'to:'To'whom'the'soil'belongs,'his'it'is'even'to'the'heaven,'and'to'the'middle'of'the'earth'
- This'is'the'traditional'definition;'the'modern'concept'however,'is'limited'due'to'the'need'for'
balance'between'person'of'land'and'use'of'society'e.g.'airplanes'
- Land'includes:'
• Buildings,'the'subsoil'and'the'airspace'
• Each'has'limitations'such'as'height;'limitations'based'on'what'is'necessary*to'#&@).'and'
=7#.''
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Limitations'on'Subsoil'
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In'A=/()&*+*B0/2'':'
‘Unauthorised'subterranean'incursions'into'a'neighbour’s'property'are'a'well-recognised'species'
of'trespass’'à'only'own'subsoil'to'what'is'reasonable'
- Rights'to'subsoil'may'be'owned'by'the'Crown='“reservation'by'Crown”'
o e.g.'a'mine'and'minerals''
Limitations'on'airspace'
- What'is'necessary'for'the'reasonable'use'and'enjoyment'of'the'land?'
o A#/&7(#%&*+*BC.+%#$7*D*E#&#/26*F(-'
§ ‘...' restricting' the' rights' of' an' owner' to' such' height' as' is' necessary' for' the'
ordinary'use'and'enjoyment'of'his'land'and'the'structures'upon'it’'
§ Height'has'no'greater'rights'than'any'other'member'of'the'public''
§ Height'is'not'unlimited'
§ It'was'held'that'the'aeroplane'at'that' height'was'not'affecting'his'ordinary'use'
and'enjoyment'of'land'and'therefore'was'not'considered'trespass'
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EXAMPLE!EXERCISE!'
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Harry! is! constructing! a! building! and! is! using! a! crane.! The! jib! of! the! crane! hangs! above!
Meghan’s! property! next! door.! Due! to! the! position! of! the! construction,! the! jib! is!
approximately!15!metres!above!the!ground!of!Meghan’s!property!constantly.!Would!this!be!
at!a!height!that!would!be!considered!to!be!‘land’?!!
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Yes.'15m'is'within'right.'
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In'E/2G21*2&-*52(.*H)//%7'
A' crane' was' hanging' over' house,' 18m' above.' The' court' held' that' yes' it' as' an' invasion' of'
property'
EXAMPLE!EXERCISE!'
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Kate'is'fanatical'about'technology'and'bought'herself'a'drone.'When'she'first'used'the'drone,'she'
lost'control'and'it' flew'over' the'boundary'of'her'property'into'William’s' property'at'a'height' of'
about'6'metres.'Kate'managed'to'direct'the'drone'back'in'about'5'seconds.'The'drone'never'came'
into'contact'with'anything'on'William’s'property.'Would'this'be'actionable'as'an'interference'with'
‘land’?'
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Yes.'Transient'interferences'are'actionable'as'trespass.''
- 6'metres'above'in'his'land'
- Transient'(not'touching/'no'contact'with'anything)'is'still'a'direct'interference'with'land.''
Document Summary
Week 2 lecture: trespass to land and trespass defences and. Trespass to land is a direct interference with land in the possession of another, without lawful justification or the occupier"s consent. Physical intrusion onto plaintiffs land (direct: e. g. walking into someone"s property without consent; throwing tree branches into neighbours yard. If not a physical intrusion, not adequate as trespass, rather, it would be treated as an action on the case i. e. nuisance -> noisy, smelly foods (indirect interferences) Elements: (1) title to sue (2) a direct unauthorised interference with land (3) fault of the defendant. Exclusive possession of the land (at the time of interference: right to exclude others. Protects possession, occupation of land not necessarily ownership. The plaintiffs sued in trespass to land and were successful, even though they were not the owners of the land being trespassed upon.
