What covenant may have been breached if a previous owner allowed locals to use a path to a dock without disclosing an easement?

A breach of the covenant against encumbrances occurs when a property owner has allowed certain rights or claims to exist on the property that were not disclosed to the buyer or new owner. In this scenario, if a previous owner permitted locals to use a path to a dock without disclosing the existence of an easement, it implies that there was an encumbrance on the property that the new owner was not made aware of at the time of purchase. This situation represents a violation of the covenant against encumbrances, which guarantees that the property is free from undisclosed claims or burdens that could affect its use or value.

The other options pertain to different aspects of property ownership and management. Waste relates to damage or neglect of the property, discrimination pertains to violations that affect fair housing laws, and alienation connects to the right to transfer ownership of the property. None of these concepts directly address the failure to disclose an easement, making the covenant against encumbrances the most relevant in this context.