What type of right does an easement grant to a nonowner?

An easement grants a nonowner the right to use the property of another person for a specific purpose. This legal right allows the easement holder to benefit from the land in a particular way without having ownership over it. For example, a common type of easement might allow a utility company to access a property to maintain power lines or water pipes, ensuring that essential services can be delivered without the need for the utility company to own the land.

This specific purpose is what differentiates an easement from other rights related to property. Unlike the right to occupy the property indefinitely, which implies ownership or an exclusive interest in the property, easements are limited to specified uses and do not confer any ownership of the property itself. Similarly, the rights to sell or lease the property or to build on it suggest a level of ownership and control that easements do not provide. Instead, easements are about sharing or allowing access for defined needs while still respecting the overall ownership rights of the property owner.