Mesne profits, a term primarily used in property law, refer to the profits or income derived from a property while it is wrongfully withheld from its rightful owner. Essentially, mesne profits represent compensation for the use or occupation of property by someone who does not have legal entitlement to it. These profits are typically calculated based on the fair rental value of the property for the period of wrongful occupation. Mesne profits can arise in various situations, such as when a tenant remains in possession of a property after the lease has expired or when someone occupies land without permission. Legal actions to recover mesne profits are often pursued alongside efforts to regain possession of the property.
n. profits which have accrued while there was a dispute over land ownership. If it is determined the party using the land did not have legal ownership, the true owner can sue for some or all of the profits made in the interim by the illegal tenant, which are thus called “mesne profits.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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