Legal Definitions - breach of covenant

Breach of covenant refers to the violation of an express or implied promise, usually in a contract, either to do or not to do an act. A covenant is a formal agreement or promise, usually in a contract. There are different types of covenants, such as:

• Affirmative covenant: An agreement that real property will be used in a certain way.
• Conditional covenant: A covenant that is qualified by a condition.
• Restrictive covenant: A private agreement, usually in a deed or lease, that restricts the use or occupancy of real property.

For example, if a person agrees to sell their property to another person with a covenant that the property will not be used for commercial purposes, but the buyer uses the property for a business, they have breached the covenant.