One of the greatest benefits in owning your own home is the freedom to do what you want with your new residence and property (up to a point, depending on whether you are dealing with an HOA), along with experiencing newfound privacy. Up until then, you may have been living in much closer quarters in an apartment complex, a college dormitory, or a rental home. Homeownership is about having control of your living quarters, making a substantial investment, and enjoying reigning over your own territory. And whether you knew about it or not at first, dealing with an easement could bring on some headaches with the neighbors that you do not want.
Easements really boil down to this: sharing. If the easement is on your property, and someone else has rights to it, you probably have to put up with them driving through your land to get to their residence or vacation home. Unfortunately, these small slivers of real estate can lead to big legal disputes if not handled correctly from the start with the assistance of a skilled real estate attorney like Shane Coons.
The best way to avoid conflicts with neighbors using an easement—or those forced to put up with you driving through their land—is to have all the details outlined thoroughly and legally. An easement must be properly recorded, and there should already be a survey in place so boundaries can be inspected and realized by all parties involved in sharing the piece of land. Everyone involved should be respectful of the other’s property, driving slowly, and not inviting others to use the easement without getting the owner’s permission. ‘Excessive use’ of the easement could easily lead to legal action and possible rescinding of the easement rights. Speak with your attorney as soon as possible if you are experiencing this type of scenario or other conflicts over the shared property.
While the neighbors could cause problems due to an easement, other entities using the land such as a utility company could present challenges that must be dealt with legally too—especially if you find later that much of your property cannot be used for additional construction due to the position of the easement. You or a neighbor could also be in the position of needing to cut through a piece of land without a formal easement—but that mode of travel could be the only way to get to another piece of real estate. Along with handling the issue legally, payment may be required to one party to facilitate use of the easement.
If you find yourself in the middle of a real estate or business dispute, consult with an experienced attorney like Shane Coons right away to protect yourself. Call now at 949-333-0900 or email us at Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com. We will be glad to meet with you to review your case and explain your legal options. Our office is here to help!