Which of the following is a situation that could lead to inverse condemnation?

Inverse condemnation refers to a legal situation where a property owner seeks compensation from the government for the loss of property value caused by government actions that were not officially recognized as a taking. This typically arises when a government project adversely affects private property without formal condemnation proceedings.

In this context, the situation involving a property owner seeking compensation for land taken by the government aligns perfectly with the concept of inverse condemnation because it highlights the scenario where the owner's property rights are affected due to government actions—often without appropriate remuneration provided upfront. This can happen, for example, if a government's project (like building a highway) diminishes the value of a nearby property.

In contrast, the other situations presented do not represent inverse condemnation. Improvements made to public roads may benefit the community, thereby not reflecting a taking. A tenant vacating a property does not involve government action against property rights, and a landlord raising rent is a matter of lease agreements rather than a taking of property. Therefore, the selected choice accurately describes a scenario that could lead to inverse condemnation.