Easement

An easement is a limited real right over another person’s land. In Swiss terminology, the closest concept is a servitude, which may benefit another parcel of land or a specific person. Common examples are rights of way, pipeline or cable rights, building restrictions, usufruct-like use rights and rights connected with access or utilities. Servitudes usually require a valid legal basis and, for land, registration in the land register to bind successors. They restrict ownership but do not transfer ownership. Their scope depends on the establishing instrument, land register entry, purpose, exercise over time and good faith interpretation. Comparative use of “easement” should avoid assuming all common-law doctrines apply in Switzerland.