Which term describes alterations or additions made to a building by someone who does not own the building and cannot legally remove them?

• A. Trade Fixtures
• B. Improvements and Betterments
• C. Lateral Support
• D. Adverse Possession

Answer: (B)

Alterations or additions made to a building by someone who does not own the building and cannot legally remove them are called improvements and betterments. These are permanent changes that become part of the real property, typically funded by the occupant but owned by the property owner once completed. The key idea is that they are not removable at the end of the occupancy.

In contrast, trade fixtures are items installed for a business purpose that the tenant can usually remove when the lease ends, so they’re considered removable personal property rather than part of the structure. Lateral support relates to the support of the land itself and is not about alterations to the building. Adverse possession is a way someone can gain ownership through long, uninterrupted possession, which is also unrelated to whether improvements are permanent.