RE1PLRI: Property, Law, Rights and Institutions

Module code: RE1PLRI

Module provider: Real Estate and Planning; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mr Henry Russell, email: h.j.g.russell@henley.reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Dr Ji Hei Lee, email: j.h.lee@henley.edu.my

Additional teaching staff 2: Ms Sati Salmah Sukarmijan, email: s.s.sukarmijan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will examine the legal and conceptual basis of property by providing an understanding of the legal, institutional and stakeholder aspects of land, property and property rights.  

The module provides the conceptual understandings needed to comprehend the basis for legal and other institutional arrangements relating to land and real estate development and planning. It considers what is involved and understood by the label property rights and how the planning system and related institutions operate and make decisions that are contingent on such rights. It will also critically evaluate the repercussion these decisions have on the different stakeholders (including benefits/disadvantages and risks to which they are exposed) as well as the impact on society at large.  

The module also aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of land law governing the ownership, use and enjoyment of property in England and Wales as relevant to real estate professionals, in their practical and commercial contexts. UK examples will be complemented by international ones.

The module leads at the University of Reading Malaysia are Dr Ji Hei Lee and Ms Sati Salmah Sukarmijan.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the conceptual basis of property as a social institution, critically drawing out the repercussions of social institutions and property rights
2. Link conceptual understandings to formal decision-making systems and institutions that allocate development rights
3. Explain a solid and practical appreciation of the legal principles governing the ownership and transfer of land and the interests which can be enjoyed by one person over the land of another
4. Use hypothetical scenarios, from a legal and socio-institutional perspective, to critically evaluate the relationship between the different stakeholders involved, including trade-offs and risks and the impact these have on their ownership and occupation of real estate (as a property right)

Module content

The module will cover the following areas:  

•  What is real estate and planning as a sector (What are the institutions/their impact) 
• What is property: definitions and concepts (property rights, social institutions) 
• Property rights principles and practices, historical overview 
• Types of property rights and property land ownership 
• Governance: planning and development rights and the planning system, conflict, public interest 
• Land markets and land value, land use controls and (e.g., discretionary systems of allocation vs zoning / codes)  
• Land use planning tools and interventions (plans, deregulation, land assembly) 
• Property interests: how do property rights allocations impact on different groups and impose forms of risk. 
• The land registration system 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures, group activities and individual reading.  

It is designed to tool students up with fundamental understanding of key concepts that they need. Lectures will be supplemented by case study examples discussed in tutorials. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

One non-assessed written assignment on which feedback will be given (part 2). 

One mock examination in the same style and format as the summative examination to be attempted by the students at a time of their own choosing (part 2).  

Reassessment

Additional costs