All terms
legal
Restrictive covenants
Conditions written into the title deed limiting what an owner can do with the property — e.g. no commercial use, no front-garden parking, no exterior alterations.
In simple terms
Rules baked into the title forever. Even renovations may need consent.
Example
An Edwardian terrace might have a covenant against converting to flats — affecting BRR (buy, refurb, refinance) strategy.
If you're buying
Spot covenants in the legal pack early. They affect what you can do with the property and its resale value.
If you're selling
Material covenants must be disclosed in the legal pack. Concealing them risks the sale being voided.