Chattel

In real estate law, chattel refers to personal property, meaning items that are movable and not permanently attached to or considered part of real property. Chattel includes goods of every kind that are distinct from land and buildings, such as furniture, vehicles, equipment, and other tangible personal belongings. Unlike fixtures, which may become part of the real property through attachment or adaptation, chattel generally does not transfer with the sale of real estate unless specifically included in the purchase agreement. Properly distinguishing chattel from real property is important in real estate transactions to avoid misunderstandings or disputes over what is included in a sale.