LW7133 - Property Law and Practice

What will I learn on this module?

The content of the module will be in line with the SRA Assessment Specification for SQE1. You will learn about and apply relevant core legal principles and rules, at the level of a competent newly qualified solicitor in practice, to realistic client-based and ethical problems and situations in the following areas:

The key elements of a freehold and/or leasehold residential or commercial property transaction.

Investigation of a registered or an unregistered freehold and/or leasehold title.

Pre-contract searches and enquiries undertaken when acquiring a freehold and/or leasehold property.

Steps in progressing a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction to exchange of contracts.

Pre-completion steps relevant to a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction.

Completion and post-completion steps relevant to a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction including remedies for delayed completion.

The grant and the assignment of a commercial lease and/or underlease.

The key lease covenants in a commercial lease and the law relating to their breach.

Security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part II.

Taxation of property transactions through Stamp Duty Land Tax, Land Transaction Tax, Value Added Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

This module will therefore support you in preparing for the SQE1 assessment in property law and practice.

How will I learn on this module?

The module is delivered through a series of online lectures in order to enable a student to develop the relevant basic knowledge and understanding. The lectures act as a stimulus to encourage involvement in the relevant knowledge and understanding and to develop independent learning.

You will also participate in two hour long weekly workshops that are linked to the lectures yet which build on students’ prior knowledge and understanding of the law in a practical context. These workshops provide an opportunity to test your knowledge and understanding and to develop your skills through student focussed debate and discussion, problem-solving, reasoned application of the relevant law, and analysis, synthesis and evaluation of each individual’s own learning. Workshops require independent planning, research and reflection and facilitate the development of communication skills. Tutor feedback provided in these workshops then provides a platform for continued progress and improvement.

E-learning activities will be fully integrated and are designed to encourage interaction with learning and to provide opportunities to confirm understanding. In particular, students will be given a considerable number of formative assessments based on multiple choice questions throughout the module.

In addition you will carry out independent learning to build on the areas covered both online and in class as well as completing multiple choice questions on property law and practice through our dedicated online teaching platform, Blackboard Ultra, to prepare you for the SQE 1 assessment.

The module is designed to ensure a progressive and integrated approach to the acquisition of knowledge and skills, alongside the preparation for the professional assessment.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The University will support you in learning and research with an excellent library and teaching facilities; access to on-line databases and resources and appropriate software.

The module team will provide support for students including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module, including both its assessment and the SQE1 Part 1 assessment, as well as the student’s academic progress. Students can seek support in the workshops and also can request it outside of class time via appointment.

Material will be provided to you through webcasts, workshops and bespoke material on our online learning platform. The module has a dedicated online teaching platform, Blackboard Ultra, which will include links to resources as well as providing you with a central location where you can easily access all the materials for the module.

The Academic Programme Support Teams are responsible for the non-academic administration of the Module, such as recording the marks for your assessment, maintaining student records and dealing with programme-specific student enquiries.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

Analyse the principles and practice of property law, and differentiate between freehold and leasehold property and the legal rules relating to ownership and transfer of such property.

Understand the steps involved in the transfer of freehold and leasehold property including exchange of contracts and completion.

Understand the areas covered by the Solicitors Qualifying Exam Part 1

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

Apply legal principles to critically analyse and solve problems that may arise in practice, particularly where property interests overlap or conflict.

Give a concise and accurate briefing on the relevant property law issues and principles of a case and contribute effectively to group discussion of legal principles and practice in a way that develops the understanding of all members of the group.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Demonstrate awareness of professional principles and conduct in relation to property law and practice.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment will run concurrently with the delivery of the module and will include multiple choice questions and written questions based on case study scenarios. Qualitative feedback will be provided by subject specialist staff to inform students’ progress. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Summative Assessment will take the form of a piece of written coursework of 3,000 words. This coursework assessment will comprise of written questions based on short case study scenarios which are designed to reflect the professional practice of property law (MLO 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6). Assessment criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be judged on your performance.

You will be provided with appropriate written feedback on your assessment through Turnitin in accordance with the Law School’s feedback policy.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Passing the SQE 1 is an essential step in your route to qualifying as a solicitor. This module is designed to provide you with everything you need to know about property law and practice in order to have the best opportunity to pass the SQE and obtain an LLM in Professional Legal Practice whilst also developing the professional skills that really matter to employers. You will be taught by our experienced teaching team of legal professionals who will provide you with excellent and personalised teaching in a dynamic and interactive teaching environment. Our tutors will work with you to develop your essential legal knowledge whilst also preparing you for an assessment in which you will draw on your existing substantive legal knowledge and learn how to blend it with procedure to solve practical legal problems.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Full Time

Department Northumbria Law School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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