3,802. Improving a Field You Only Bought Temporarily

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 11:7

The shoots, twigs and fruit of wild fig trees in the field belong to the buyer, just like other produce. However, if a tree is cut down or dries up, neither party may benefit from it. Rather, it should be sold and the proceeds used to buy land. The buyer may then benefit from that land until the field is redeemed.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 11:8

Let’s say that someone buys an ancestral field and plants trees, thereby increasing the value of the property. When it returns to its owner in yoveil, we appraise the increase in value and the owner pays this amount to the buyer. This is inferred from Leviticus 25:33: “A house that was sold is returned,” i.e., the house is returned, but not the value of its improvements.