What provides certain individuals access to a property without owning it?

An easement is a legal right that allows a person or a group to access and use a portion of another person's property for a specific purpose, without transferring ownership. This access can be for various reasons, such as to cross the property for utility lines, to create a pathway, or to access a landlocked parcel. The holder of the easement may not own the land, but they have the right to use it in a manner defined by the easement agreement.

This concept is fundamental in real estate, as easements can significantly affect land use and property rights. For example, if a property has a designated easement for utility companies, these companies can maintain power lines or pipelines running through the property without needing to acquire ownership. This legal provision strikes a balance between property rights and the needs of the community or specific individuals.

Other terms such as liability, encroachment, and sublease do not accurately represent the concept of allowing access to a property without ownership. Liability refers to legal responsibility, encroachment involves illegally using or building upon someone else's property, while a sublease pertains to leasing a property that one is renting to another tenant, which involves ownership or leasing rights.