how a usufruct works
in usufruct a person or group has the right to use the property of another they do not own it but have a contractually sanctioned interest in it there are two types of usufruct perfect and imperfect in perfect usufruct the usufructuary can use the property and can profit from it but cannot change it in a substantial way for example if the owner of a business becomes incapacitated and gives usufruct to a relative to run the business for him or her the usufructuary can run the business but can t sell it or tear down the building and rebuild it in an imperfect usufruct system the usufructuary does have some power to alter the property such as when a landowner grants usufruct to a piece of land for agricultural use the usufructuary may have the right to produce crops from the land and to make improvements to the land that would aid in that endeavor however the usufructuary does not own these improvements when the usufruct ends they belong to the original owner or to his or her estate usufruct is only recognized in a few jurisdictions in north america such as louisiana as an example if a party has a usufruct in a real estate property they have the full right to use it or rent it out and collect the rental income without sharing it with the actual owner as long as the usufruct is in effect usufruct examplefor example bert has been granted usufruct over helen s property helen s property is a bed and breakfast with a large yard that needs tending helen is in ill health and can no longer tend to the property and run the business bert as the usufructuary has the right to use the property and run the business on helen s behalf for the time the usufruct is in effect the usufruct may be in effect until helen s death when the estate will be settled and the property will be passed on per act of law or the directions in the estate 