1: What is a right of way?

In short: A right of way is a real right that allows the owner of land to access his property by crossing that of a neighbor.

In detail: The easement of right of way is governed by Articles 637 et seq. of the Civil Code. Article 637 defines it as "a charge imposed on an inheritance for the use and benefit of an inheritance belonging to another owner." It creates a legal relationship between two properties: the dominant property (which benefits from the right of way) and the servient property (which supports it). This easement may be established by law, by agreement between the owners, or by court decision depending on the circumstances.

2: In what cases can you legally cross your neighbor's land?

In short: Mainly in two situations: when your property is landlocked (without access to the public highway) or by contractual agreement with your neighbor.

In detail: The two main situations are:

1. The landlocked property : According to Article 682 of the Civil Code, the owner of land whose land has no access to the public highway or has an insufficient access route may claim passage over neighboring land. This easement is called "legal" because it applies even without agreement.
2. Difficult or expensive access : A property that has technically usable access but is difficult to use (steep slope, prohibitive development costs, etc.) may benefit from a "conventional" easement, established with the neighbor's agreement in accordance with Article 686 of the Civil Code. Unlike a legal easement, this cannot be imposed without consent.

3: How is a right of way established due to an enclave?

– In brief: The easement is established either by amicable agreement formalized with a notary, or by court decision if no agreement is possible.

In detail: The establishment of a right of way due to an enclave follows several principles:

• According to Article 683 of the Civil Code, the passage must normally be taken on the side where the route is shortest to the public highway.
• However, it must be fixed in the least damaging place for the owner who suffers it.
• Compensation proportional to the damage caused is generally due to the owner of the land crossed (article 682, paragraph 3).
• Article 682-1 specifies that the owner of the servient land may request, at any time, the relocation of the passage to another location on his land, provided that this relocation does not affect the use or make it more inconvenient.
• The document establishing the easement must specify the exact location of the passage, its width, and the terms of use.

4: Can a right of way be cancelled if the neighbor is no longer landlocked?

In short: Yes, the right of way due to an enclave legally ceases as soon as the enclave disappears.

In detail: Article 703 of the Civil Code clearly states that "easements cease when things are in such a state that they can no longer be used." Thus, when an owner benefiting from a right of way acquires a plot of land giving him direct access to the public highway, or when a new public highway is created along the edge of his property, the easement due to enclave no longer has any legal reason to exist. The owner of the servient tenement can then request the declaration of this extinction and the removal of the right of way.

5: Can an owner refuse to terminate an easement if he acquires new access?

In short: He can only object if the new access is insufficient, dangerous or difficult to use.

In detail: The owner of the dominant land may contest the extinction of the easement by demonstrating that:

• The new access presents a danger (poor visibility on the public highway, steep slope)
• Its development would require work disproportionate to the value of the property
• Technical, administrative or urban planning constraints prevent the normal use of this new access
• Its configuration does not allow a use corresponding to the purpose of the fund (for example, unsuitable for the passage of agricultural vehicles if the property is a farm)

It is therefore not enough for a new access to exist materially: it must be actually practicable and adapted to the legitimate needs of the owner.

6: What is the procedure for canceling a right of way that has become useless?

In short: Attempt at amicable agreement, then notarized formalization in the event of agreement, or legal action in the event of refusal.

In detail: The recommended procedure involves several steps:

1. Attempt at amicable settlement : Contact the beneficiary to demonstrate that the easement no longer exists and offer to formally waive it.
2. Notarized report : In the event of agreement, have a notarial deed drawn up confirming the termination of the easement and publish it in the land registry office for enforceability against third parties.
3. Mediation or conciliation : In the event of disagreement, request the intervention of a mediator or conciliator before any legal action.
4. Legal action : As a last resort, refer the matter to the territorially competent court (that of the location of the building) to request the declaration of the extinction of the easement.
5. Legal expertise possible : The court may order an expert opinion to assess whether the new access is actually sufficient.

7: Is the conventional easement subject to the same extinction rules?

In short: No, an easement established by agreement does not automatically expire if the enclave disappears, unless otherwise stipulated in the deed.

In detail: Unlike the legal easement due to enclave, the conventional easement (established by agreement) obeys different rules:

• It persists even if the enclave disappears, unless the act explicitly specifies that it will cease in this case.
• It can be extinguished by:
  • Mutual agreement of the parties (amendment of the initial act)
  • Non-use for thirty years (article 706 of the Civil Code)
  • Confusion (when the dominant and servient properties belong to the same owner)
  • Permanent inability to exercise (material destruction)

It is therefore essential to check the exact nature of the easement (legal or conventional) and the precise terms of the act establishing it to determine under what conditions it can end.

8: What are the rights and obligations related to the maintenance of the passage?

In short: By default, maintenance is the responsibility of the beneficiary of the easement, but the constitutive act may provide for other terms.

In detail: Article 697 of the Civil Code provides that "the person to whom an easement is owed has the right to carry out all the works necessary to use it and to preserve it." Consequently:

• The owner of the dominant land must generally bear the costs of maintaining the passage
• He cannot aggravate the easement (widen the passage, modify its route unilaterally)
• The owner of the servient tenement cannot do anything that reduces the use of the easement (build on the passage, plant trees obstructing it)
• The constitutive act may provide for a different distribution of maintenance costs
• In the event of abnormal deterioration, a sharing of costs may be requested.

Good faith and the search for concerted solutions are generally preferred to avoid conflicts related to maintenance.

9: Are the heirs or new owners bound by existing easements?

In short: Yes, easements are attached to properties and not to people, so they are transferred automatically.

In detail: Article 700 of the Civil Code specifies that "if the inheritance for which the servitude was established is divided, the servitude remains due for each portion." Similarly:

• In the event of sale, donation or inheritance, the new owner inherits the active and passive easements
• The seller has a legal obligation to inform the buyer of the existence of easements
• These easements must be mentioned in notarial deeds
• When purchasing real estate, it is crucial to consult:
  • The title deed and its annexes
  • The mortgage status of the property
  • Urban planning documents
  • Existing plans and boundaries

Even an easement not mentioned in the deed of sale remains enforceable if it is published in the land registry service.

10: Can the location of a right of way be modified?

In short: Yes, either by agreement between the parties or at the initiative of the owner of the land crossed if the movement does not make use more difficult.

In detail: Article 701 of the Civil Code specifies that "the owner of the subject land may not do anything that tends to diminish the use of the easement or make it more inconvenient." However, Article 682-1 allows the owner of the servient land to request the relocation of the passage at his own expense if he can demonstrate a legitimate interest.

To be accepted, this trip must:

• Do not reduce the convenience of use for the beneficiary
• Be fully funded by the applicant
• Present an objective interest (land consolidation, construction project, etc.)
• Be the subject of a new notarial deed if the parties agree

In the event of disagreement, the court will assess whether the conditions for the move are met.

11: Can a right of way be subject to acquisitive prescription?

In short: No, a right of way can never be acquired simply by prolonged use, even after several decades.

In detail: Article 691 of the Civil Code clearly states that "continuous non-apparent easements and discontinuous easements, whether apparent or not, can only be established by title." Since a passage is considered a discontinuous easement (which is only exercised by human action), it cannot be acquired by prescription.

This rule has important consequences:

• Merely using a passage on someone else's land for 30 years or more does not create any rights
• The owner's tolerance never amounts to recognition of a right of way.
• Only a written act (agreement or judgment) can create a valid right of way
• The owner of the land can, in theory, prohibit passage at any time in the absence of a title

To secure a passage that has been used for a long time, it is therefore essential to formalize it with a notarial deed.

12: What are the consequences of the aggravation of a right of way?

In short: Unauthorized aggravation may be contested by the owner of the land crossed, resulting in restrictions or compensation.

In detail: According to Article 702 of the Civil Code, "a person who has a right of servitude can only use it according to his title, without being able to make any change which worsens the condition of the former."

Worsening can result from several factors:

• Significant increase in frequency of use
• Widening or modification of the route without authorization
• Change of destination (pedestrian crossing becoming passable)
• Use by persons not provided for in the constitutive act
• Extension to new constructions not initially planned

In the event of a deterioration, the owner of the servient tenement may:

• Request a return to the original use in accordance with the title
• Request additional compensation
• Obtain adjustments to limit nuisances
• In the event of a serious violation, have the abuse of rights noted through legal means

13: How is the compensation due for a right of way calculated?

In short: The compensation is proportional to the damage suffered, taking into account the depreciation of the property and the nuisances caused.

In detail: According to Article 682, paragraph 3 of the Civil Code, the passage must be established "in return for compensation proportionate to the damage it may cause." This compensation is not a purchase price but rather compensation.

The elements generally taken into account for its calculation include:

• The area of land impacted by the passage
• Depreciation in property value
• The nuisances generated (noise, dust, loss of privacy)
• Necessary maintenance of the passage
• The consequences for the development of the rest of the property
• The expected intensity of use of the passage

The compensation may be set in the form of a single lump sum or an annual annuity. It may be revised in the event of a significant change in the conditions of exercise of the easement.

14: Are rights of way applicable to rural and forest roads?

R14 – In brief: Rural and forest properties benefit from specific rules for easements, with special provisions for exploitation.

In detail: Rural roads, belonging to municipalities, are covered by the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code. Article L. 161-5 states that "the municipal authority is responsible for the policing and conservation of rural roads."

For forest properties, the Forest Code provides specific provisions:

• Article L. 155-1 establishes specific rules concerning trees on the edge
• Article L. 155-2 specifies that any landlocked forest property benefits from the right of way, not only for current exploitation, but also to ensure its service for the purpose of fighting fires.
• Special easements may be imposed for the defense of forests against fires (DFCI)

Agricultural properties also benefit from special provisions in the Rural Code concerning the opening up of operating plots, with special attention paid to the passage of agricultural machinery.

15: What are the remedies if a neighbor illegally blocks a right of way?

In short: You can send a formal notice, then request a judicial referral to put an end to the disturbance quickly, and possibly claim damages.

In detail: Obstruction of a legally established right of way constitutes a disturbance that is punishable by law. The possible remedies are:

1. Amicable approach and formal notice : Article 56 of the Code of Civil Procedure encourages the attempt to reach an amicable resolution. A registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt formally requiring the neighbor to restore the right of way constitutes a first formal step.
2. Summary proceedings : In an emergency, Article 835 of the Code of Civil Procedure allows for referral to the interim relief judge to quickly obtain an order ordering the cessation of the disturbance. This procedure is particularly appropriate when the blockage prevents access to the home or a professional activity.
3. Action at the bottom : A full action before the judicial court makes it possible to have the right definitively recognized and to obtain compensation for the damage suffered.
4. Penalty and forced execution : The judge may attach a financial penalty to his decision (amount to be paid per day of delay) in accordance with Article L. 131-1 of the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures.

In the event of prolonged obstruction, damages may cover the costs incurred to otherwise access the property, as well as the moral prejudice linked to this situation.