Real Property _ Rights in Land Flashcards
Easements - what is it?
EASEMENTS
- The right to use someone else’s land
Creation of an Easement:
EASEMENTS
- Writing (Expressly)
- By Prescription
- By Implication
- By Necessity
Express Easement
EASEMENTS
An easement may be created by express grant so long as it satisfies the Statute of Frauds.
Easement by Prescription
EASEMENTS
An easement by prescription is created when one uses the land of another and it is open and notorious, adverse, and continuous.
Easement by Implication
EASEMENTS
An easement by implication is created when, prior to the division of a tract of land, a use existed on the servient estate that was apparent and continuous when the tract was divided, the easement is reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of the dominant estate.
Easement by Necessity
EASEMENTS
An easement by necessity exists when an owner of a tract of land sells part of the tract and deprives one lot of access to a public road or utility line.
A right of way by absolute necessity is implied over the lot with access to the public road or utility line.
An easement by necessity terminates when the necessity terminates.
An easement can be p—— or n——
EASEMENTS
An easement can be positive or negative
How long will an easement last?
EASEMENTS
- An easement will last FOREVER, unless
terminated
What are the two types of easements?
EASEMENTS
Appurtenant or In Gross
Type of Easement
Appurtenant
EASEMENTS
An easement appurtenant benefits the holder in his physical use or enjoyment of another tract of land.
An easement appurtenant requires two tracts of land—a dominant tenement (the estate benefitted by
the easement) and a servient tenement (the estate subject to the easement right).
For an easement appurtenant, the benefit to be realized by the easement must directly benefit the possessor of the dominant tenement. A person who subsequently possesses
the dominant tenement becomes entitled to the benefit of the easement.
Type of Easement
In Gross
EASEMENTS
An easement in gross is created where the holder of the easement interest acquires a right of special use in the servient tenement independent of his ownership or possession of another tract of land
What does a court consider to determine the scope of an easement?
EASEMENTS
A court looks at the reasonable intent of the parties, unless the language of the easement indicates otherwise. Standard rules of construction apply, with ambiguities resolved in favor of the grantee (except for gratuitous conveyances). Subsequent conduct and the parties’ intent for a reasonable scope that serves the grant’s purposes and foresees reasonable changes in use are relevant.
Who has the duty to repair an easement when it is used exclusively by the easement holder?
EASEMENTS
If the easement holder is the only party using the easement, they have the duty to repair. Absent an agreement to the contrary, the owner of the servient estate has no duty to repair
What is the duty to repair when an easement is non-exclusive (used by both servient and dominent estate owners)?
EASEMENTS
If the easement is non-exclusive (used by both the servient and dominant estate owners), both parties have a duty to repair. A court will apportion repair costs based on their relative use.
What happens when an easement holder exceeds the scope of use?
EASEMENTS
When an easement holder exceeds the scope of use, the easement is surcharged. A court may grant an injunction against the excess use to the servient estate holder, which does not terminate the easement, and may also award damages
Easements are terminated by:
EASEMENTS
(a) if the servient estate is purchased by a bona fide purchaser,
(b) by estoppel,
(c) by necessity,
(d) destruction,
(e) condemnation,
(f) stated condition occurs,
(g) release,
(h) abandonment,
(i) merger, or
(j) prescription.
Note: Non-use is not enough for abandonment
Termination of Easements - Purchased by BFP
What is a BFP?
EASEMENTS
A bona fide purchaser is a purchaser for value who takes without notice of a burden. A bona fide purchaser who takes property without notice of the easement doesn’t take on the burden of an easement.
For Value
A purchase is for value if the purchaser paid any legally significant value.
Without Notice
Notice may be actual, constructive, or by inquiry.
Termination of Easement - Estoppel
EASEMENTS
An easement terminates by estoppel when the easement holder, either through conduct or by assertion, purports to terminate the easement, the owner of the servient tenement
reasonably relies on the conduct or statements.
Termination of Easement - Necessity
EASEMENTS
If the need for an easement ends, the easement by necessity terminates.
Termination of Easement - Destruction
EASEMENTS
If the easement is in a structure and there is involuntary destruction of the structure, the easement is destroyed.
Termination of Easement - Condemnation
EASEMENTS
If the servient estate is condemned, the easement is destroyed.
Termination of Easement - Stated Condition
EASEMENTS
If the parties set forth specific conditions upon the happening of which the easement right terminates, the conditions control.
Termination of Easement - Release
EASEMENTS
An easement may be terminated by specific release given by the easement holder. For a valid release, there must be concurrence of both owners, executed with the formalities required for the valid creation of an easement.
Termination of Easement - Abandonment
EASEMENTS
An easement may be terminated when the easement holder demonstrates an intent to permanently abandon the easement by some physical action. The easement holder
must manifest intent to never make use of the easement again; mere non-use is insufficient.
Termination of Easement - Merger
EASEMENTS
An easement terminates if the ownership of the dominant and servient tenements come together (e.g., the owner of the servient estate buys the dominant estate).
Termination of Easement - Prescription
EASEMENTS
An easement may be terminated when a long-continued possession and enjoyment of the servient estate indicates to the public that no easement existed.
The owner of the servient tenement must interfere with the easement to the extent that it creates a cause of action in favor of the easement holder. The interference must be open, notorious, and without permission for the statutory period.
EASEMENTS
Transfer of Easement
EASEMENTS
An easement will pass to a burdened estate so long as the new owner has notice of the easement
What are Covenants?
COVENANTS
- Promise for a promise
- Always created by writing
- Generally last forever
A Covenant “runs with the land” if (5)
COVENANTS
1) Writing
2) Intent
3) Notice
4) Privity
5) Touch & Concerns the land
For a burden to run with a restrictive covenant, there must also
(what kind(s) of privity)
COVENANTS
For a burden to run with a restrictive covenant, there must also be vertical and horizontal privity
For the benefit to run with the land, there must be
COVENANTS
For the benefit to run with the land, there must be
vertical privity, intent, and it must touch and concern the land.