Understanding Easements – AT&T Working in Area

With the recent increase of new construction and improvements in telecommunications in our area, access to residential utility easements can become a confusing topic.  An easement gives others the legal right to use the property covered by the easement for a specific purpose.  In the case of a residential utility easement, contractors, such as AT&T, are typically allowed access to the easement to conduct work or improvements to their systems.  Generally, contractors attempt to notify the owner of the underlying property as a courtesy when they plan to access it, but they are often not required to do so.  If a contractor knocks on your door, and no one answers, he or she might have the right under the easement agreement to enter your yard in order to access the easement.  Often, easement agreements are written so that home owners cannot restrict or prevent access to the land within the easement.  The specific rights or duties related to a particular easement will depend on the terms of that easement agreement. The location of any easements on a residential property should be reflected on the survey prepared when purchasing the home.