Voluntary waste describes deliberate or reckless acts by a tenant or other limited owner that physically damage, devalue or substantially alter land or buildings, going beyond any rights granted by the lease or other instrument. It typically covers positive acts (such as demolition, removal of fixtures, felling timber or significant structural alterations) rather than mere neglect, which is usually classed as “permissive waste”. In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, voluntary waste is principally a common law concept developed in case law on landlord and tenant and on life interests and trusts of land. It is relevant when assessing breaches of repairing covenants, forfeiture, damages, injunctions and duties of trustees or life tenants. In Ireland, the concept is similarly rooted in common law and equity, and informs remedies for breach of covenant and duties of life tenants and trustees. In Scotland, the same conduct is addressed through rules on a tenant’s or liferenter’s obligations to maintain, not materially alter or damage heritable property; although the term “voluntary waste” is less commonly used, the underlying idea is closely analogous.