Glossary · Ownership and rights
Usufruct
In short
A registered right to use a property and take its income, for up to 30 years or for the holder's lifetime. It ends when the holder dies and cannot be inherited.
What it means
The holder of a usufruct may live in the property, let it and keep the rent, while someone else remains the owner. It is registered on the title deed at the Land Office.
How it differs from a lease and from superficies
- It can be granted for a fixed period of up to 30 years or for the holder's life.
- It ends on the holder's death and does not pass to heirs.
- It gives the use of the property, not ownership of the buildings on it. That is what superficies does.
- It is most often used within families, for example for a spouse.
What to keep in mind
Because it dies with its holder, a usufruct gives little to sell or to leave behind. As with other registered rights, the Land Office decides whether to register it, and a lawyer should advise on whether it fits.