What right does a tenant in a life estate hold until they pass away?

A tenant in a life estate, also known as a life tenant, has the right to occupy the property for the duration of their life. This right is fundamental to the nature of a life estate, as it allows the tenant to use and enjoy the property until they pass away. The life tenant does not own the property in perpetuity; instead, their rights are limited to their lifetime.

While life tenants may have certain rights regarding the property, such as maintaining it, they cannot transfer ownership in the way that a fee simple owner can. For instance, the life tenant cannot sell the property outright or, in many cases, mortgage it, because their interest in the property ceases upon their death, and the property typically reverts to another party, known as the remainderman. Thus, the specific and exclusive right to occupy the property until death is what distinguishes their role in a life estate.