Which of the following are interests in land that are less than a fee simple (estates)?

• A. Easement
• B. Restrictive covenants
• C. Both Easement and Restrictive Covenants
• D. Leasehold

Answer: (C)

In real estate, fee simple is outright ownership of the land. Interests that are less than fee simple are rights or burdens that affect the land without giving ownership. An easement fits this because it grants a non-possessory right to use someone else’s land (like a right of way) without transferring title or possession. A restrictive covenant also fits because it creates a limitation on how the land can be used and runs with the land, binding future owners, but it does not convey ownership. Together, these are classic examples of interests in land that are less than fee simple.

Leasehold, on the other hand, is a possessory estate—the right to occupy and use the property for a term under a lease. While it is still less than full ownership, it’s categorized differently from non-possessory interests like easements and covenants, which is why the option combining easement and restrictive covenants is the best match for “interests in land that are less than a fee simple.”