Utility Access Rights (Wayleaves)

Utility access rights advice in Ireland explains what wayleaves and utility easements affect your land. We tell you what wayleaves exist, what they allow and what they restrict. Wayleaves and utility easements can affect your right to build, dig or develop.

You can upload your folio, deeds, contract, photos or other documents through our secure link; a solicitor would then typically review everything before preparing advice. There is no hourly billing: the price is fixed for the service described. Property and land issues are usually easier and cheaper to resolve early, before a sale, mortgage or family transfer is held up. The advice is based on Irish law and practice and on the documents you provide, so the more complete your documents, the more precise the advice can be. If the advice shows that further work is needed, such as correspondence, a Land Registry application or a planning or court process, a solicitor would explain the options and any further cost before anything else is done.

What’s included

• Folio and map review
• Wayleave and utility easement schedule
• Build and dig restriction summary
• Recommended next step
• Written summary
• Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Who this is for

• Owners planning to build near power lines or pipes
• Farmers with utility infrastructure on their land
• Buyers of land with wayleaves
• Owners approached by a utility for access

How it works

1. Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
2. Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
3. A solicitor would then typically review the documents and prepare written advice.
4. You receive your written advice by email and, where included, a follow-up call to ask questions.

Frequently asked questions

How much does wayleave advice cost in Ireland?

This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

What is a wayleave?

A wayleave is a right allowing a utility to place and maintain infrastructure, such as cables or pipes, on or under land.

Can a wayleave stop me building?

It can restrict building or digging near the infrastructure. The summary sets out the restrictions.

For more on property, land and conveyancing, see our Property & Conveyancing in Ireland guide.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.