"Beneficial use" is a legal term describing a person's right to enjoy the benefits of specific property, especially a view or access to light, air, or water, even though title to that property is held by another person. It is also referred to as "beneficial enjoyment".^[1]

By contrast, "beneficial interest" is where a beneficiary has an interest in a thing ("res"), such as a trust or estate, but does not own the underlying property,^[2] usually entitling the beneficiary to some of the income from the underlying property.

Similarly, a beneficial owner is where specific property rights ("use and title") in equity belong to a person even though legal title of the property belongs to another person.^[3] For example, companies often hold stocks or bank funds in their names for the benefit of specific people.

References

• Black's Law Dictionary. Pocket (2nd ed.). 2001.