Which of the following best defines the tort of negligence in property law?

A failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in a similar situation.

In property law, what does the term 'trespass' primarily refer to?

Unlawful interference with another person's possession of land.

Mr. Tan's construction company is building an extension to his house. During the works, debris falls onto his neighbour, Mrs. Lim's, property, damaging her prized orchids. This situation is best described as which type of tort?

Trespass to land, because there was a direct physical interference with Mrs. Lim's possession of her land.

Ahmad owns a freehold landed property in Bukit Timah. His neighbor, Chen, is renovating his house and installs a temporary scaffolding structure that overhangs 1.5 meters into Ahmad's garden airspace at a height of 10 meters. Additionally, Chen's workers frequently step onto Ahmad's driveway to move materials without permission. Ahmad is frustrated and seeks a legal remedy to stop the intrusion immediately. Which legal principles apply to Ahmad's situation?

Chen has committed trespass to land as it involves an unjustifiable interference with Ahmad's possession of the land, including the lower stratum of airspace; Ahmad may seek an injunction.

Paper 1

Tort

Negligence, nuisance, trespass, liability

37 practice questions available in the app

Study Guide

Tort is part of Paper 1 — Real Estate Agency of the RES examination. This topic covers negligence, nuisance, trespass, liability.

Key facts

Part of Paper 1 (Law of contract, agency, property, land registration)
37 practice questions in the app
Multiple choice format — 4 options per question
Must score 75% or higher on Paper 1 to pass

Use the sample questions below to test your understanding. For comprehensive practice with all 37 questions, progress tracking, and timed exam simulation, download the Prepare app.

Try Sample Questions

Test your knowledge with 5 free questions from this topic.

Question 1 of 5

What is the primary legal remedy available to a person who has suffered harm due to a private nuisance?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is negligence in the context of real estate agency?

Negligence occurs when a property agent fails to exercise reasonable care and skill, causing loss to a client or third party. A negligence claim requires: (1) duty of care, (2) breach of that duty, (3) causation, and (4) foreseeable damage. Agents can be liable for negligent misrepresentation about property defects.

How many Tort questions are on the RES exam?

Tort is the smallest Paper 1 topic with approximately 37 practice questions. While it has fewer questions, understanding negligence and misrepresentation is important as these are common areas of agent liability in practice.

What is the difference between private and public nuisance?

Private nuisance is an unreasonable interference with a person's use and enjoyment of their land (e.g., excessive noise from a neighbour). Public nuisance affects the public at large (e.g., blocking a public road). Property agents should be aware of nuisance issues when advising on property purchases.