Hudson v Hathway

Subject Matter

TRUST OF LAND — Family home — Joint interest — Unmarried couple living in property purchased in joint names ─ Express agreement that woman entitled to property in return for relinquishing claims on man’s pension ─ Man seeking equal division on sale ─ Whether woman entitled to all sale proceeds under constructive trust ─ Whether necessary to show detriment

[2022] EWHC 631 (QB); [2022] 2 FLR 1323, QBD

TRUST OF LAND — Family home — Joint interest — Unmarried couple living in property as joint tenants — Couple separating — Man writing emails to woman disavowing any interest in property — Emails subscribed with man’s first name — Whether email correspondence amounting to release of man’s interest in property — Whether emails satisfying statutory formality that dispositions of interests in land or equitable interests be in writing and “signed” — Whether emails giving rise to constructive trust — Whether detrimental reliance on parties’ common intention necessary for constructive trust to arise — Law of Property Act 1925 (15 & 16 Geo 5, c 20), ss 36, 53 — Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 (c 34), s 2

[2022] EWCA Civ 1648; [2023] KB 345; [2023] 2 WLR 1227; [2023] 1 FLR 1252; [2022] WLR(D) 513, CA

Appellate History

Commentary

Tanfield chambers
Dispositions of equitable interests in the digital age: Hudson v Hathway Case comment

Guildhall Chambers
The Return of Detrimental Reliance – Case Note: Hudson v Hathway [2022] EWCA Civ 1648 Case comment

Gatehouse chambers
Detrimental reliance and the dangers of emails: Hudson v Hathway [2022] EWCA Civ 1648 Case comment