Legal Definitions - meliorations

Definition: Meliorations are lasting improvements made to an estate by a tenant or liferenter, according to Scots law. These improvements go beyond simple repairs and can include things like renovations, landscaping, or the addition of new structures. The cost of meliorations cannot be recovered from the landlord or fiar.

• A tenant builds a new shed on the property to store tools and equipment. This is considered a melioration because it is a lasting improvement to the estate.
• Another tenant installs a new irrigation system to improve the quality of the land for farming. This is also a melioration because it is a lasting improvement that goes beyond simple repairs.

These examples illustrate how meliorations are different from repairs. Repairs are necessary to maintain the property and keep it in good condition, but meliorations are optional improvements that enhance the value of the estate. They are made by the tenant or liferenter, not the landlord or fiar, and cannot be recovered in cost.