Mario bought a small house in Nelson and was puzzled when he saw the conveyancing documents, which referred to a transfer of a "fee simple." The following statements were made to him to explain the term. Which is correct?
A) Technically, only the Crown owns the land, but the fee simple interest is the greatest bundle of rights, other than the Crown's, a person can own.
B) The owner of the fee simple has the right to exclusive possession of the land until his death.
C) If the owner of the fee simple dies without a will, his estate reverts back to the Crown.
D) The owner of the fee simple has rights to the surface of the earth and also unlimited use of the airspace above his property.
E) The owner of the fee simple also owns what is below the land, including mineral rights.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A fee simple interest represents the highest degree of ownership interest one can have in real property, short of the sovereign's (or Crown's) ultimate ownership, granting the holder full possessory rights and powers of disposition.

Mario Bought a Small House in Nelson and Was Puzzled