Existing covenants: which statement about covenants is correct?

• A. They may impede use and require release or modification
• B. They are irrelevant to buyers' intended use
• C. They never affect use of the property
• D. They must always be released

Answer: (A)

Existing covenants are restrictions attached to land that can regulate how the property is used or developed. They can directly limit what a buyer plans to do, so they may impede the intended use. When a covenant stands in the way, a remedy is to seek release or modification, typically through consent or via a formal application under the appropriate law. This is why the statement that covenants may impede use and require release or modification is the best answer. Covenants are not irrelevant to a buyer’s intended use, they do affect use, and they do not always have to be released—whether relief is possible depends on the specific covenant and the applicable procedures.