Easements

This term describes any rights an individual may have over a property that is not their own. Typically, this refers to rights held over a neighbouring property. For example, it may be necessary for a property owner to gain access to their neighbour’s land for reasons specified in the easements. This may cover any repairs they must carry out to their own property. They may need to place a ladder or erect scaffolding to be able to safely carry out these repairs. Their rights to do so on their neighbour’s land should be included in the easements.

Another example of an easement on a piece of land concerns the use of a shared driveway. It may be that the property line runs down the middle of the driveway. This means one half would be owned by one property owner and the other half would be owned by the person next door. However, the easement on that driveway would allow both parties to use the driveway to reach their garages or park their cars, as per the terms stated.

There are other cases where easements are given to other people regarding a specific piece of land. A good example would include rights of way. For example, there may be a footpath or route that cuts across part of the land owned by the specified landowner. Easements can cover both public and private rights of way, depending on the situation. A private right of way may run along the rear of a section of back gardens, allowing neighbours to cut through for easier access. A public right of way might involve a footpath that links with an area accessible to the general public.