Mesne profits
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Mesne profits are sums of money paid for the occupation of land to a person with right of immediate occupation, where no permission has been given for that occupation.
This situation commonly arises where a landlord has obtained an order from a court for the possession of their land from a tenant who is to be evicted. Some time may elapse from the date of the court order -- which ends the tenancy -- and the recovery of possession by the landlord. The tenant owes no rent for the occupation, since they have ceased to be a tenant, but will be made to pay a charge, usually identical to the rent, which is known as a mesne profit.
In England and Wales the term occupation charge is becoming more usual as a result of the move away from Law French and Latin in the law.
