Which statement best distinguishes fixtures from fittings?

• A. Fixtures are fixed to land and form part of the property; fittings are movable.
• B. Fixtures are movable items; fittings are fixed to land.
• C. Both are permanently attached to the land and cannot be removed.
• D. Fittings become part of the land after a fixed period.

Answer: (A)

When thinking about property, the key idea is whether an item is treated as part of the land or as personal property. Fixtures are items that are fixed to land or a building and thus form part of the property; they pass with the land when it is sold unless the contract says otherwise. Fittings, by contrast, are movable items that can be removed without damaging the land and remain personal property. This distinction is crucial in conveyancing because it determines what actually transfers with the property. The statement that fixtures are fixed to land and form part of the property, while fittings are movable, best captures this difference. The other options reverse or distort the basic idea (movable versus fixed, permanence, or a time-based rule that doesn’t apply).