What is an Accession in Real Estate?

Just as a building becomes a full part of the real property when it is built on the land, fixtures can become a legal part of the real property. The legal process by which trade fixtures permanently become part of the real property is called accession.

Once accession has converted a fixture into part of the real property, there are legal restrictions as to whether those fixtures can be removed. For example, built-in kitchen cabinets are fixtures that usually cannot be removed by the departing tenant or owner — without express permission from the seller or new owner.

Those cabinets have become part of the real property through accession. The same rules may apply for built-in shelves, toilets, bathtubs, lighting fixtures, curtain rods, etc. Removing those fixtures may constitute theft or damage.

For more information, see also the following entries:

• :Fixtures:
• :Land:
• roperty:
• :Real Estate:
• :Real Property:
• :Tenant:
• :Trade Fixtures: