Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam

In real estate, what term refers to the right to use the land of another?

1. Tenant Rights

2. Servient Rights

3. Eminent Domain

4. Easement

The correct answer is: Easement

The concept of an easement is fundamental in real estate as it refers to the legal right to use someone else's land for a specified purpose. Easements are most commonly established for utility companies to maintain power lines, or for neighbors to access a shared driveway, for example. The property that is benefiting from the easement is known as the dominant tenement, while the property that is burdened by the easement is referred to as the servient tenement. This arrangement allows individuals or entities to utilize parts of another's property without transferring ownership, clearly distinguishing easements from rights that generally pertain to tenants occupying rental properties or from other legal concepts like eminent domain, which pertains to government authority over private property for public use. Understanding easements is crucial for real estate transactions and property law, as they can significantly impact both property values and usage rights.