What is an easement?

An easement is defined as a right that allows one party to use a portion of another party's property for a specific purpose. This can include various uses such as accessing a road, installing utilities, or crossing the property to reach a separate parcel of land. The owner of the property still retains ownership rights, but the easement grants certain usage rights to another individual or entity.

Understanding easements is crucial in real estate, as they can affect property value and the rights of property owners. They are often recorded in property deeds and can be permanent or temporary, depending on their intended use.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe an easement. A type of lease involves renting property rather than granting rights to use, ownership transfer refers to the conveyance of property ownership, and property tax exemption relates to the relief from paying taxes on certain properties. Thus, the characterization of an easement as a right to use someone else's property is the correct one.