Eignarrétturinn

Eignarrétturinn, or property law, is the branch of Icelandic private law that governs the rights and duties related to things that can be owned or controlled. It covers both real property (land and buildings) and movable property, as well as certain intangible rights that can be treated as property under the law. The central aim is to determine who may exercise control over property, how those rights can be acquired, transferred, limited, or lost, and how they are protected against interference by others.

Key concepts include ownership (the most complete real right over a thing), possession, and other real rights that attach to property, such as mortgages, pledges, and encumbrances, as well as easements that grant use or access right to another's land. Eignarrétturinn also governs contractual arrangements that relate to property, such as sales, leases, and licensing, and the duties that come with ownership, including maintenance and compliance with planning rules.

Transfers of property typically require formal steps, including voluntary transfer by sale, gift, or inheritance, and the establishment and registration of rights in the land registry. In Iceland, the registry system (Þinglýsing) records ownership and other real rights against a property, helping to provide certainty and enforceability.

Area boundaries, cadastral surveys, and urban planning fall within Eignarrétturinn in interaction with public law. The field is governed by the Icelandic Civil Code and accompanying statutes, creating a framework for property transactions, security interests, and the use and development of land.