Easement

Easements restrict what you can do on certain parts of your land. For example, you can't build on a right-of-way or under a power line. Not knowing about these easements can lead to conflicts with your neighbors or even force you to demolish a structure, as they are legally binding and permanent.

In Africa, easements are sometimes less formalized or respected, especially informal rights-of-way. However, public easements (for water pipes or power lines) are increasingly enforced and can lead to demolitions if you build over them without authorization.

• ⚠ You're assured there are "no easements" without any official verification of the land documents.
• ⚠ A dirt path crosses your land, and you're told "it's just people passing through" with no further explanation.
• ⚠ An electrical pole, pipeline, or overhead cable runs across your land, and no one mentions it's an easement.

• 1. "Do the land title (Titre Foncier), surveyor's plan, or urban planning certificate (Certificat d'Urbanisme) mention any easements on this land?"
• 2. "Are there any "apparent" easements on the land (e.g., path, pipeline, power line, etc.)?"
• 3. "If so, what are the specific restrictions related to these easements for my future construction (e.g., required distances, non-buildable zones)?"