Aaron Kravitch, E. J. Goodwin, Phyllis Kravitch, John Wright Jones, contra.Marvin O'Neal, Jr., David H. Fritts, for plaintiffs in error.

The deed required the written consent of the grantee to make substantial alterations and provided that a violation of this covenant authorized an acceleration and maturity of the indebtedness and a sale under the power therein conferred. The evidence shows such alterations without such consent; therefore the sale under the power contained in the deed was authorized, and it was error to enjoin it. Both parties had equal knowledge of the content of the deed, hence the knowledge of the grantee of the alterations while they were being made in no wise constituted grounds to estop him from exercising the rights conferred by the deed.

This case arises out of a proceeding in equity to restrain and enjoin the proposed sale of certain property at Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, by reason of the exercise of the power of sale in a deed to secure debt brought by the borrower-purchaser against the lender and holder of the security deed. There are other parties to the transaction who are so named because they are closely related to the parties above but in the court's view of the case it is unnecessary to consider anyone other than the lender and the borrower.

After an interlocutory hearing on the prayer for a temporary injunction, the court, having heard voluminous evidence from both sides, granted a temporary injunction enjoining the sale, and the exception is to that judgment because it is (1) contrary to law, (2) the evidence did not authorize it, and (3) the evidence showed conclusively that the deed to secure debt was in default under its terms and no legal reasons were shown why the advertisement and sale should not proceed. Succinctly stated, the assignments of error are that in violation of the covenants of the deed, (1) the borrower failed to pay the sum of $2,012.72 due thereunder, (2) proceeded to remove and substantially alter the improvements on the property without obtaining the written consent of the lender as required; and (3) failed to pay all taxes due the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia.

Under the view taken by the court in the opinion, the following uncontradicted evidence as to the removal and substantial alteration of improvements is pertinent: (1) No written consent for substantially altering or removing improvements was obtained. (2) The bath house was remodeled by tearing out the interior completely and making substantial alterations therein. (3) A concrete structure was completely torn down and the concrete blocks stacked. (4) Numerous other alterations, changes and removal of property were made but in each instance there was conflicting testimony as to whether or not the property altered, changed or removed was an "improvement" or a "detriment" or whether the work done amounted to mere repairs.

While the covenants in the deed to secure debt to pay all taxes which may be imposed or which may otherwise accrue, and to pay any debt thereby secured, might or might not have been breached by the failure to pay taxes due May 1, 1964, or to pay the $2,012.72 which was a part of the purchase price held in escrow until certain things had been done, yet the undisputed evidence shows an unquestioned breach of the covenant to obtain written consent from the grantee before making substantial alterations and removal of improvements on the premises, and our decision will be based upon this breach to determine if maturity was thereby accelerated, and if it was error to enjoin the sale under the power contained in the deed.

On this phase of the case, the issue sought to be raised is that of estoppel based upon the facts that the grantee knew such alterations were intended, lived so near thereto until he must have observed the alterations, and several times went upon the premises where he saw what was being done, and made no protest until the grantor had expended about $50,000 in making improvements and repairs. Sound thinking on this situation requires a clear recognition that a forfeiture of title with a loss of improvements is not here involved; that the improvements were on the grantor's lands and not those of the grantee, and he is not being deprived of a particle of same; that the grantor had equal knowledge with the grantee of the necessity of obtaining written consent of the grantee to make substantial alterations; that the grantee had no duty to remind the grantor of that requirement which he had written into the deed he executed; and that the grantee is not endeavoring to stop such alterations. He is merely exercising a right plainly given by the deed which the grantor executed to him, to wit: accelerate the maturity of his debt because of a breach of a covenant solemnly made in the deed.

It is essential to a clear understanding to eliminate the contentions of the defendant in error as follows: (1) the power of sale in a deed to secure debt must be strictly construed and fairly exercised. Code Ann. 37-607 (Ga. L. 1937, pp. 481, 482); Schneider v. Smith, 214 Ga. 710 (107 SE2d 208). This does not apply since there is no forfeiture here involved. (3) If there is any question as to construction of a deed to secure debt either by virtue of its original terms or a course of conduct which waives strict performance, a question for the jury is presented. Prothro v. Walker, 213 Ga. 472 (99 SE2d 890), and Powell v. Mars Oil Co., 214 Ga. 710, supra, which are based thereon cannot be applied here since neither ambiguity nor waiver is shown. (4) The facts do not authorize an application of the rule of laches as applied in Dulin v. Caldwell & Co., 206 Ga. 410 (57 SE2d 481), and Pearson v. George, 209 Ga. 938 (77 SE2d 1), since the plaintiff still has the benefit of all expenditures and is not shown to be less able to prove his case. (5) There is no rescission here, hence there is nothing to restore as held in Couch v. Crane, 213 Ga. 518 (100 SE2d 271). The grantor could not have been deceived as to the content of the deed he executed, which required him to obtain the written consent, nor was the grantee negligent in not telling him what he already knew. It was essential to estoppel here that the party claiming it, because of alleged conduct, was not only without knowledge of the requirement of written permission to make the alterations but also without convenient and available means of acquiring such knowledge. Williams v. Waldrop, 216 Ga. 623 (118 SE2d 465). See also Elliott v. Keith, 215 Ga. 518 (111 SE2d 60). The content of the deed was equally known to both the grantor and grantee therein, and it contained the requirement of written consent and a provision for accelerating maturity and exercising the power of sale if that covenant was violated. Another sound applicable rule of law is that the party claiming estoppel must have relied and acted upon declarations or conduct of the other party and not on his own knowledge or judgment. Code 38-116; Wilkins v. McGehee, 211 Ga. 535 (87 SE2d 80).

It would have been lawful for the grantee to even hope the grantor would violate the covenant and thus accelerate maturity. They both fully agree that such could be the result of the breach. They are conclusively presumed to have intended such result, else it would not have been written into the deed. The grantor has a complete means of keeping his land and the improvements he has made thereon, and that is by paying the matured debt. The sale is to collect the debt not to take the land. Presumably its sale price will be enhanced in the amount of the improvements, and this will inure to the grantor.

The evidence and the law demanded that the sale be allowed to proceed, and it was error to enjoin the same.

Judgment reversed. All the Justices concur.

1964