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Feu meaning

What does Feu mean?
In Scots property law, a feu was a parcel of heritable land granted by a feudal superior to a feuar (vassal) in return for an annual feu duty and compliance with title conditions. The feuar held the effective beneficial ownership (dominium utile) but remained subject to the superior’s rights and enforcement of conditions. The term commonly appears in historic conveyancing (for example, feu charters and feu dispositions) and case law; it is not a defined term in current legislation but a descriptive label from the former feudal system. The Scottish feudal system was abolished by the Abolition of Feudal tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, in force from 28 November 2004. Superiority interests and feu duties were extinguished, and former vassals became outright owners of the land. Many former feu conditions now subsist, if at all, as real burdens under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003. Usage is specific to Scotland. The term is not used in England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Ireland, which rely on freehold/leasehold or analogous tenure structures. It remains relevant when interpreting pre‑2004 titles, real burdens, servitudes and historic property rights in Scottish conveyancing and litigation.
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View the related Practice Notes about Feu

PRACTICE NOTES
Scottish Private Client Practice Glossary: Succession, Trusts, Guardianship and Property Terms with England and Wales Equivalents

A glossary of frequently used terms and phrases in Scottish Private Client law, with the closest England and Wales equivalents (where applicable) and links to helpful websites Ab intestato Meaning From someone who dies without a will; describes property taken under the laws of intestate succession. Nearest English equivalent None Action of specific implement Meaning A court action seeking an order compelling a party to carry out a particular act. In Scotland there is no division between equitable and legal remedies, unlike England and Wales. Nearest English equivalent Specific performance (an equitable remedy for breach of contract that can be ordered alongside, or in place of, damages) Advance notice Meaning An entry in the relevant property register that protects the grantee of a deed intended for registration in the Land Register of Scotland. The protected period of 35 days begins on the day after registration....

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PRACTICE NOTES
Scots Property Law Glossary: Key Terms with England and Wales Equivalents, Registers, Land Registration and Conveyancing Practice

This glossary outlines commonly used terms and phrases in Scottish property law, together with the closest England and Wales equivalents (where appropriate), and signposts guidance on differences between Scottish property transactions and law, as well as useful property-related websites. A non domino disposition Meaning A disposition granted by someone with no title to the property. Formerly, this could regularise a defective title where, after registering a non domino disposition, the grantee possessed the property openly, peaceably and without judicial interruption for ten years. Since 8 December 2014, with the commencement of the Land Registration etc (Scotland) Act 2012 (LRE(S)A 2012), a party seeking to obtain title to land where no owner can be traced must comply with the prescriptive claimant provisions in LRE(S)A 2012, ss 43–45 before submitting an a non domino disposition for registration. Nearest English equivalent None, although possessory title is similar. Action of specific implement Meaning A court action seeking an order compelling a party to perform a specified...

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