Report On Art 448
Report On Art 448
Report On Art 448
Bens Land
Art 448
Rule When On the Land of a Person in Good Faith, Another Builds, Sows, or Plants in Bad Faith
Art. 448.
The owner of the land on which anything has been built, sown or planted in good faith, shall have the right to appropriate as his own the works, sowing or planting, after payment of the indemnity provided for in articles 546 and 548, or to oblige the one who built or planted to pay the price of the land, and the one who sowed, the proper rent. However, the builder or planter cannot be obliged to buy the land if its value is considerably more than that of the building or trees. In such case, he shall pay reasonable rent, if the owner of the land does not choose to appropriate the building or trees after proper indemnity. The parties shall agree upon the terms of the lease and in case of disagreement, the court shall x the terms thereof.
Khalils House
Bens Land
Bens Remedies
B is entitled to an option. He is therefore allowed: (a) to appropriate for himself the house upon payment of the proper indemnity;
(b) or to compel the builder B to buy the land upon which the house has been built, unless the value of the land be considerably more than the value of the house. (In the latter case, rent should be paid.)
Tan Queto v. CA, et al. GR 35648, Feb. 27, 1987 (Resolution on a Motion for Reconsideration, setting aside the S.C. decision dated May 19, 1983)
The net result of mutual bad faith between the owner and the builder entitles the builder to the rights of a builder in good faith. (Art. 448, Civil Code). Ergo, reimbursement should be given to the builder if the owner decides to appropriate the building for herself. The Chapter on Possession (jus possessionis, not jus possidendi) in the new Civil Code refers to a possessor other than the owner. The difference between a builder (or possessor) in good faith and one in bad faith is that the former is NOT AWARE of the defect or aw in his title or mode of acquisition while the latter is AWARE of such defect or aw. (Art. 526, Civil Code). But in either case, there is a aw or defect. A person who builds in his own property is not merely a possessor or builder in good faith (this phrase presupposes ownership in another) much less is he a builder in bad faith. He is a builder-possessor (jus possidendi) because he is the owner himself.
Spouses Rafael Benitez and Avelina Benitez v. CA 77 SCAD 793, GR 104828, Jan. 16, 1997
The advantage in Art. 448 is accorded the landowner because his right is older, and because, by the principle of accession, he is entitled to the ownership of the accessory thing. There can be no preemptive right to buy even as a compromise, as this prerogative belongs solely to the landowner. No compensation can be legally forced on him, contrary to what petitioners ask from this Court. Such an order would certainly be invalid and illegal.
Why Option Is Given to the Landowner and Not to the Planter or Builder
It is the owner of the land who is allowed to exercise the option because: (a) his right is older; (b) and because, by the principle of accession, he is entitled to the ownership of the accessory thing. (3 Manresa, p. 213, cited in the case of Bernardo v.
It is the current market value of the improvements which should be made the basis of reimbursement to the builder in good faith.