Closings glossary

Appurtenance

A right or improvement that passes with the property when title transfers, such as an easement benefiting the parcel, a parking right or a fixture attached to the building.

What is an appurtenance in real estate?

Quick Answer

An appurtenance is a right or improvement that travels with the land and passes automatically to the buyer at closing. Easements benefiting the parcel, parking rights, water rights and permanently attached fixtures are the common examples, and a deed usually conveys them without naming each one.

The full definition

A right or improvement that passes with the property when title transfers, such as an easement benefiting the parcel, a parking right or a fixture attached to the building.

Where does appurtenance come up in a New York City closing?

A Brooklyn townhouse deed carries a rear-yard easement over the neighboring lot as an appurtenance, even though the easement itself is described only in a 1954 agreement.

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