Tenure

In Jamaican property law, “tenure” refers to the way in which land or property is held or occupied, defining the rights and responsibilities associated with it. Tenure determines how property can be used, transferred, or inherited. The most common forms of tenure are freehold and leasehold. Freehold tenure grants the holder permanent ownership and the ability to use the property indefinitely, while leasehold tenure provides temporary rights to use and occupy the property for a specified period, with the property ultimately remaining under the ownership of the freeholder. Additionally, commonhold tenure involves ownership of a specific unit along with shared rights to common areas. These arrangements establish the legal basis for property ownership and management in Jamaica.