The Impact of Easements on Real Property

By: Kyle H. Jensen

A person interested in purchasing real property should always determine whether any easements burden or benefit the real property and the impact such easements have on the real property. An easement is a right held by a person to use another person’s real property, or portion thereof. Generally, easements provide non-owners with the right to have access over, run utilities through, or drain onto a portion of an owner’s real property. Easements can be granted to specific individuals or for the benefit of the owners of other real property not burdened by the easement. An easement burdens real property when the real property is subject to and restricted by the rights granted by the easement. An easement benefits real property when the real property and its owner are benefitted by and entitled to use the rights granted by the easement.

It is important for purchasers to determine if there are any easements that burden the real property they are interested in because such easements may restrict or even prohibit a purchaser’s intended use or development of the real property. If, for example, an access easement runs over a portion of the real property where the purchaser wants to construct a building, the purchaser would be prohibited from constructing such building because it would block the access easement rights granted to another party. There may be ways to work around the easement, such as relocating the easement area or constructing improvements that do not block the easement; however, a purchaser should always resolve these issues before closing to avoid purchasing real property that cannot be operated or developed for its intended use.

It is also important for prospective purchasers to determine if there are easements that benefit the real property they are interested in, or if they need to obtain a beneficial easement, especially when purchasing vacant property. If a purchaser is interested in real property that does not have access to a public road, then such purchaser must either confirm the real property is benefited by an access easement that provides the real property with sufficient access to a public road or require the seller to obtain an access easement. A purchaser should remember that even if the real property has access to a private road, there is no guaranty that the owner of the real property has the right to use such private road unless there is an easement that grants such rights. Furthermore, when purchasing vacant property, a purchaser should determine whether the real property has access to utilities, and, if not, require the seller to obtain utility easements from the adjacent real property to provide necessary access. Accordingly, purchasers should always carefully inspect all easements that burden or benefit the real property they intend to purchase. Failure to do so may result in purchasing real property that cannot be used or developed in the manner the purchaser intended.

Kyle Jensen is an attorney with the law firm Clark, Campbell, Lancaster & Munson, P.A. in Lakeland. Questions can be submitted to thelaw@cclmlaw.com.

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Kyle Jensen

Associate at Clark, Campbell, Lancaster & Munson, P.A.

Kyle Jensen and his family came to Lakeland from Ocala. They have grown to love Lakeland, especially First Friday, the Food Truck Rally and their involvement in the United Way. Kyle is also a member of the Citrus Center Kiwanis and on the Lakeland Bar Association Board of Governors. Kyle and his wife have made a great deal of friends, joined a wonderful church and enjoy being a part of the thriving Lakeland community.

Kyle joined CCL&M in 2013 is looking forward to building long-standing relationships with his Lakeland clients. He wants to provide reliable, competent resolution to their issues and be completely approachable.