In property law, what does the term "accretion" refer to?

The term "accretion" specifically refers to the gradual increase of land as a result of natural processes, such as sediment deposition by water or the gradual buildup of soil. This phenomenon occurs over time and can significantly alter property boundaries, often resulting in landowners acquiring additional land without any purchase.

For instance, when a river slows down and drops sediment along its banks, the soil accumulates and expands the land area owned by the adjacent property owner. This process is important in property law because it affects land rights and ownership; the land acquired through accretion typically belongs to the property owner adjacent to the accumulating land.

The other options, while related to property law and land ownership, describe different concepts that do not align with the definition of accretion. For instance, erosion refers to the loss of land, which is the opposite of accretion. The transfer of property ownership relates to the legal disposition of land but does not involve the natural processes of land formation. Finally, eviction pertains to the legal process of removing a tenant or occupant from a property, again unrelated to the natural accumulation of land.