A good example is real estate, wherein a covenant may prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings in a residential area to preserve the neighborhood's atmosphere. The main goal of negative covenants is to protect the stability and integrity of agreements.
There are several covenants in the Bible, but five covenants are crucial for understanding the story of the Bible and God's redemptive plan: the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, The Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.
Negative covenants are actions you can't take, while positive covenants are actions you must take. For example, a negative covenant in real estate could prevent you from raising chickens on your property. On the other hand, a positive covenant could require you to mow your lawn.
It is possible to apply to the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal to have a restrictive covenant “discharged or modified”, as the statute puts it, in order to get the covenant removed or changed so that development can take place or the use of the land can be changed.
Covenants are particularly relevant in the fields of contract law and property law. An example of a contractual covenant is a non-compete agreement . Examples of common covenants in property law include agreements not to build a fence or agreements to maintain a shared driveway.
If a deed restriction is not enforceable, you can choose to ignore it and take on the risk of a neighbor filing suit, or you can seek out a judge's ruling to have the covenant removed from the deed. Obtaining that ruling is easier when no one is actively enforcing the covenant.
Some common affirmative covenants include maintaining a good credit rating, insurance and appropriate accounting records.
Under the Limitation Act 1980 claims in land need to be brought to court within 12 years. The main remedy for a breach of a restrictive covenant or the threat of it is the application to the courts for an injunction to prevent any further breaches.
Some covenants are given a set expiration date, which is listed in the deed or a secondary document called the "List of covenants, conditions and restrictions". Otherwise, they may not have an expiration date and can last indefinitely.
These covenants are typically filed with the county recorder's office, making them legally binding on all property owners within the community.