Easements

Our property team take a look at easements

What is an easement?

An easement is a right to use land belonging to a third party in a particular way or to prevent the owner of that land from using it in a certain manner. An example would be a right of way.

Can someone have an easement over their own land?

No. There must be two parcels of land owned or occupied by two different parties. One parcel of land will have the benefit of the easement and the other parcel will bear the burden.

If someone has the right to cross another person’s land can they prevent the owner from using that land?

No. An easement is a right over someone else’s land, not a means of preventing the owner of the using the land.

How are easements granted?

They can be created by deed of grant. So, for instance, if a land owner needs a supply of water and the only way of gaining it is to run water pipes through a neighbour’s land, a deed of grant can be prepared to allow the supply of water through a defined channel of pipes across the neighbour’s land. The person who has the benefit of this easement would normally be responsible for the cost of preparing the deed of grant as well as the maintenance costs of the pipes and cost of the supply of water. The person who is granting this right must not be involved in expenditure.

Can easements be enforced against a future buyer?

Yes. If the person with the right of way over his land sells that land then the right of way can be enforced against any future owner.

Can an easement be granted for a fixed duration?

Yes. Fixed term easements are commonly granted to allow access whilst a neighbouring property is being built.

How are they terminated?

There are several ways of extinguishing them. An easement can for instance be extinguished by Act of Parliament. Alternatively, the owner of the land with the benefit of the easement can execute a deed releasing the owner of the land from the burden of it. And if both parcels of land come into the ownership and possession of the same person, the easement is extinguished.

Does an easement allow a person to take any natural produce or soil from the land?

No. This is known as ‘profits a prendre’. An easement is a right to use land; it’s a privilege without a profit. A profit, on the other hand, is a right for a person to remove products of natural growth from another person’s land. Examples include fishing and shooting rights.

Is there any other legal entitlement to enter another person’s land?

Yes. Under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 a person may gain access to neighbouring land in order to carry out essential repairs to his own property, upon appropriate notice. If access is refused then a court order can be applied for.

If you have any queries about easements please call us on 0333 888 0404 or by email at [email protected]

Lee Dawkins

Lee Dawkins

Over the past 30 years Lee has overseen the expansion of the firm’s litigation department. He developed our personal injury and clinical negligence teams, creating various niche areas that now enjoy a national profile. He pioneered contentious probate, setting up one of the UK's leading inheritance dispute teams and established Slee Blackwell as a force within claimant professional negligence. He now works as the firm's marketing partner.
Lee Dawkins

Lee Dawkins

Over the past 30 years Lee has overseen the expansion of the firm’s litigation department. He developed our personal injury and clinical negligence teams, creating various niche areas that now enjoy a national profile. He pioneered contentious probate, setting up one of the UK's leading inheritance dispute teams and established Slee Blackwell as a force within claimant professional negligence. He now works as the firm's marketing partner.

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