1. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
EASEMENT
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
RIGHTS
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
Divya Raman
Corporate Department
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

2. INTRODUCTION
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
An easement is a certain right to use
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
the real property of another without
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
possessing it. It is "best typified in
the right of way which one
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
landowner, A, may enjoy over the
land of another, B.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

3. EXAMPLES
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
• Right-of-way (easements of way)
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
• Easements of support (pertaining to
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
excavations)
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• Easements of "light and air"
• Rights pertaining to artificial waterways
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

4. DOMINANT AND SERVIENT ESTATE
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Easements require existence of two
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
parties:
Bangalore - 560 001.
The party gaining the benefit of the
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
easement - Dominant estate.
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
The party granting the burden – Servient
estate.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

5. TYPES OF EASEMENTS
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 EASEMENTS
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
An affirmative easement is the right to
use another's property for a specific
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
purpose, while a negative easement is
the right to prevent another from
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
performing an otherwise lawful activity
on their property.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

6. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
• PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EASEMENTS
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
A private easement is held by private
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
individuals or entities. A public
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
easement grants an easement for a
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
public use, for example, to allow the
public an access over a parcel owned
by an individual.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

7. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• EXPRESS AND IMPLIED EASEMENTS
Mylapore,
An express easement may be "granted"
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
or "reserved" in a deed or other legal
instrument. Implied easements are
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
not recorded or explicitly stated, but
reflect the practices and customs of
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
use for a property. They are very
complex.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

8. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• EASEMENT BY NECESSITY
Mylapore,
Necessity alone is an insufficient claim to
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
create any easement. A court order is
necessary to determine the existence
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
of an easement by necessity. This
method of creating an easement,
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
being an active creation by a court of
an otherwise non-existent right, will be
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
automatically extinguished upon
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
termination of the necessity.

9. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• EASEMENT BY PRIOR USE
Mylapore,
Easements by prior use are based on the
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
idea that land owners can intend to
create an easement, but forget to
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
include it in the deed. Eg: A sells the
front lot, but forgets to get an easement
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
for driveway access. An easement may
be created by prior use.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

10. CHENNAI
Five elements to establish an easement
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 by prior use are:
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
1. Common ownership of both properties
at one time
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
2. Followed by a severance
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
3. Use occurs before the severance and
afterward
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

11. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
4. Notice
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 a. Not simply visibility, but apparent or
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
discoverable by reasonable inspection (e.g.
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
the hidden existence of a sewer line that a
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
plumber could identify may be notice
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
enough)
5. Necessary and beneficial
b. Reasonably necessary
c. Not the "strict necessity" required by an
EMAIL
info@altacit.com easement by necessity
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

12. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• EASEMENT BY PRESCRIPTION
Mylapore,
Easements by prescription, also called
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
prescriptive easements, are implied
easements granted after the dominant
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
estate has used the property in a
hostile, continuous and open manner
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
for a statutorily prescribed number of
years.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

13. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• EASEMENT BY ESTOPPEL
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 When a property owner misrepresents the existence of
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
an easement while selling a property and does not
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
include an express easement in the deed to the
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
buyer, the court may step in and create an
easement. Easements by estoppel generally look to
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 any promises not made in writing, any money spent
by the benefiting party in reliance on the
representations of the burdened party. If the court
finds that the buyer acted in good faith and relied on
the seller's promises, the court will create an
EMAIL
info@altacit.com easement by estoppel.
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

14. INDIAN EASEMENTS ACT, 1882
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
• Chapter II – Imposition, Acquisition
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
and Transfer of Easements
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
• Chapter III – Incidents of Easements
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• Chapter IV – Disturbance of Easements
• Chapter V – Extinction, Suspension and
Revival of Easements
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

15. EASEMENTS AND LICENSES
CHENNAI
1. An easement is a privilege to use or
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 occupy the land of another for a
specific duration and for a precise and
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
definite purpose which is not
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
inconsistent with the owner's rights in
the property. License is the personal
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
and revocable permission to perform
acts on the land of another.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

16. CHENNAI
2. Easements - longer duration and
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 generally not revocable.
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
License – shorter and generally
revocable.
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
3. Easements become part of the
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
property.
Licenses are personal between the
licensor and licensee.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

17. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
4. To the extent consideration
is paid for the right to use
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
your neighbor's land, a
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
license will usually cost less
than an easement.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

18. CONCLUSION
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Thus concluding, an easement is a right
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
which the owner of a property has to
compel the owner of another property
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
to permit something to be done, or to
refrain from doing something on the
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
servient element for the benefit of the
dominant element.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

19. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com