Key Takeaways. Restrictive covenants are clauses that prevent, prohibit, restrict, or limit the actions of a person or entity named in a contract. Restrictive covenants are common in real estate transactions and apply to everything from the colors you can paint your house to how many tenants can live in a building.
The following must be present for a restrictive covenant to be enforceable: The original parties involved must have intended the covenant to be binding and enforceable. This intention should be clear from the language used in the contract or deed.
A restrictive covenant in real estate is a legal agreement that limits how you can use your home. Restrictive covenants are most common when your property is part of a homeowners association, inium association, or planned community.
Discriminatory restrictive covenants were intended to prevent people of color from moving into certain neighborhoods. Although they are now illegal and unenforceable, some properties may still include discriminatory covenants in their historical record.
If the obligation restricts the use and enjoyment of the land it is called restrictive covenant. Examples of restrictive covenants are not to use the property other than for residential purposes or not to build any structures on the property.
Covenants can be unenforceable if they expire, if there is a history of the covenant being violated, or if there is no individual or group benefiting from them. Otherwise, they are generally enforceable and you could face legal action if you ignore them.
One of the most common restrictive covenants is not to do or keep anything on the property that could be a nuisance to the neighbouring properties. This is general covenant that could cover a wide variety of actions, to try to keep the area a pleasant place to live.
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.
Is a 12-month restrictive covenant enforceable? Each case turns on its own facts, but a court is generally reluctant to enforce restrictive covenants longer than 12 months. Market practice dictates a period of between 3 and 6 months is appropriate for more junior employees.
The beneficiary, also known as the covenantee, has the right to enforce the restrictive covenant, and it is crucial to act quickly to avoid potential repercussions, such as significant expenses incurred by a developer.