Donate SIGN UP

peppercorn rent

Avatar Image
tali122 | 18:52 Sun 29th May 2005 | Phrases & Sayings
11 Answers
peppercorn rent - i know what it is - but where does the phrase originate from as it doesnt seem to bear relation to the term
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 11 of 11rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by tali122. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
back in the middle ages, land (or whatever) that was basically let for free might actually have a notional rent of one peppercorn per year.
Yes, jno is correct as usual! :-)  You clearly understand what the term means in legal parlance nowadays, and its origins are simply literally what it says.  A nice Ronseal Legal Term - a rare gem! :-)
In the deeds to our (very old) house it actually states a rent of four peppercorns a year - don't forget spices were rare and exotic items when they had to come from so far away in a little leaky boat!

good point Solarjunkie; it's not another way of saying 'nothing' - but given that it's just one peppercorn, it's pretty much a legal minimum. The idea was that as long as some rent was paid the property was leasehold not freehold.

And as we all understand here, the point really is just that there must be SOME consideration for a contreact to be valid. 

Although here http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_027094-03.hcsp is a suggestion that peppercorn rent means rent FREE.  Now I'm totally confused.  And look at the website - should be a reliable source!  Someone please clarify.  :-)

One of the earliest references to "a peppercorn rent" from 1616 - mentions a new lease for one hundred years and reads: "...and shall yearly pay a peppercorn, a nut, a bunch of may or some such trifle."
It's obviously just by chance, therefore, that we speak of a 'peppercorn rent' rather than a 'may rent' or a 'nut rent'...all being equally 'trifling'.
technically, acw, that site says the holder of a peppercorn rent won't have to pay any money...but doesn't mention vegetable products!
True true!  I just thought the implication was a bit risky. 
Question Author
i hope this thread wasnt moronic for you
peace, tali, you asked a question, acw gave you a straight answer, no need to resurrect old disagreements
Question Author
disagreement? no just a resurrection fetishist

1 to 11 of 11rss feed

Do you know the answer?

peppercorn rent

Answer Question >>