Servient Estate
As the term “servient” comes from the root word “serve” and to serve means to perform a duty or a service for another entity, its meaning is easy to define. The term servient estate refers to an estate or property that is subject to being used for the benefit of another property. These benefits can come in the form of easements, rights of way, or rights of access. These rights are granted by law and are passed through purchasing contracts.
How does a Servient Estate work?
Upon purchasing a property, the contract can specify that there is an easement across the lot. This means that another property owner has the legal right to use part of the property to access their property. In this case, the property that grants access is the servient estate, while the property being granted access is the dominant estate.
When an easement is specified and granted in a contract, it gives the easement owner a nonpossessory interest in another property. The easement owner is the owner of the dominant estate, while the one required to allow the easement is the owner of the servient estate. There are different types of easements, from those that would enable the use of someone else’s land to those that limit the servient estate owners from blocking access to view or sunlight. Important to note that the servient estate owner can use the land or property in any way they want as long as they don’t limit the dominant estate owner’s easement on that land.
When purchasing a property, it is essential to know if it is a servient estate. For this, one should check for easements because if there is a dominant estate with only one access to the beach, which is by the servient house, it can impact the property’s price. Usually, suppose there is an easement on the property that makes it a servient estate. In that case, the price should be lowered because it may limit the owner’s privacy and give the dominant estate owner nonpossessory interest in the servient estate.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Giving additional time to conduct some act. An example is a landlord granting a tenant an additional week to make the rental payment. ...
A stated of years. The length of time something is effective, such as a two-year rental. A condition specified in an agreement. An example is that the tenant must not have a cat in ...
Room containing a toilet and wash basin, but does not include a shower or bath tub. ...
Planned subdivision where detached housing is located in the close proximity to each other. Additionally, the subdivision shares common open space including parking and recreation areas. ...
The clause in a deed beginning with the words " to have and to hold" limiting or defining the ownership nature of the estate in the property granted by the deed. Declares the type of ...
How much of an investment made in real estate has been recovered expressed in dollars or in percentage terms. ...
Founded in 1930 and located in Centerville, UT, NARELLO has 700 members consisting of state administrators managing real estate licensing laws. It seeks to improve real estate licensing ...
Expert in real estate who has an education in real estate appraisal as well as having significant professional experience. A recognized license may be obtained from the Member Appraisal ...
Same as term soil porosity: Extent to which soil has cavities or pores, thereby allowing water to pass through. ...

Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.