5. Grant of a lease and underlease Flashcards
What are prescribed clauses?
A standard set of clauses which must be included in leases dated on or after 19 June 2006
Summary of the important details in the lease
What are the three different options for the term of the lease?
Fixed term
Periodic tenancy - continues indefinitely from one period to another
Tenancy at will - tenant occupies property with the permission of the landlord on the terms that tenancy may be terminated by either party at any time
What are the three types of tenant covenants?
Absolute covenant - cannot carry out stated action (landlord may allow it but only by either one-off consent of a permanent variation of the lease)
Qualified covenant - can only carry out stated action with landlord’s consent
Fully qualified covenant - landlord cannot unreasonably withhold consent
What is FRI?
Full repairing and insuring
What are the key points regarding repair which have been established by case law?
- There must be disrepair first, before the tenant can be in breach of a covenant to repair
- Property need not be kept in perfect repair
- Works of renewal and improvement go beyond repair
- Repairing covenant does not oblige the tenant to give back to the landlord a property that is wholly different from that leased to them, but can oblige a tenant to remedy an inherent defect in the design and / or construction of the building if the only way to effect the repair
What is the implication obligation of “good repair”?
More onerous than just keeping the property in “repair” - a higher standard
What is the common position regarding landlord’s covenant to insure the property?
Commonly insure property against defined risks
Should be insured to its full reinstatement value
What is the common position regarding tenant’s covenant to insure the property?
Often a covenant to pay a sum reserved as rent which includes the premium for the buildings insurance policy and an associated policy covering the landlord for loss of the annual rent during any period
What is the standard position regarding a covenant from the landlord to reinstate the property?
Usually a covenant to use the insurance proceeds to reinstate the property (rather than an absolute obligation to reinstate even if the proceeds are insufficient)
What is the standard position regarding rent suspension?
Unless there is a contrary express term, rent will continue to be payable even if property is unusable
What happens if a property is destroyed by an uninsured risk?
The tenant will be liable to repair under the repairing covenant
What is the standard position regarding termination?
Unless there is a contrary express term, if building is totally destroyed, doctrine of frustration will only apply in exceptional circumstances
If the lease contains an absolute covenant against structural or exterior alterations, what can a business tenant do to enable it to carry out works?
Use s 3 LTA which enables it to carry out improvements
What is the procedure for the tenant under s 3 LTA 1927?
Serve notice on landlord that works will be done - if landlord refuses then can take to tribunal
Court can authorise improvements if add to the letting value of the property, are reasonable and suitable to the character of the property and do not diminish the value of any other property of the landlord
How long does a landlord have to respond to a s 3 LTA 1927 notice and what happens if they do not respond during the time frame?
3 months to object - failure to do so then enables tenant to lawfully carry out the works
If there is a qualified or fully qualified covenant regarding alterations, where will consents and conditions typically be contained?
In a licence to alter (separate document)
What is the impact of s 19(2) on qualified covenants?
Allows a qualified covenant to be converted into a fully qualified covenant (and therefore landlord’s consent cannot unreasonably be withheld) if the alterations can be argued to be improvements
When can a tenant receive compensation for improvements?
When they have obtained prior authorisation under s 3 LTA statutory procedure, and these have added to the letting value of the holding (subject to statutory limits)