The husband, was a fairly successful man of commerce and at all material times was and had been building up some capital assets which he invested in purchases of private and commercial property.

On the back of this she redecorated, buying carpets and curtains, improved and repaired, but there was never any written agreement or conveyance.

In April 1976 his solicitors wrote to her giving her two months notice "to determine her licence to occupy", and demanded possession in June 1976.

No trust could be inferred, but the encouragement to improve the house in the belief it was hers created a proprietary estoppel.

A mere licence can be defeated by a sale of the house, so to comply with equity the legal owner, her ex-cohabitee was ordered to execute a conveyance.