Chapter 7 - Real Estate Leases Flashcards
One of the aims of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is to
discourage the use of unfair and overly complex leases
A primary theme of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is that both landlord and tenant
bargain with each other in good faith
In accordance with Statute of Frauds
a five-year lease must be in writing to be enforceable
What happens when a leased property is sold
the buyer acquires title subject to the lease
If a lease does not state a specific ending date, when does it terminate?
when either party gives proper notice
A lease is both
an instrument of conveyance and a contract between principal parties to uphold certain covenants and obligations
The four principal types of leasehold estate are:
estate for years: has a specific lease term
estate from period-to-period: the lease term automatically renews
estate at will: has no specified lease term
estate at sufferance: a tenancy without consent
The legal essence of a valid lease is that it
conveys an exclusive right to use and occupy a property for a limited period of time in exchange for rent and the return of the property after the lease term is over.
A lease conveys a leasehold interest or estate that grants the tenant the following rights during the lease term:
exclusive possession and occupancy
exclusive use
quiet enjoyment
profits from use
The lease defines the tenant’s obligations, which principally are to:
pay the rent on time
maintain the property’s condition
comply with the rules and regulations of the building
In conveying the leasehold estate, the landlord acquires a leased fee estate, which entails the rights to:
receive rent
re-possess the property following the lease term
monitor the tenant’s obligations to maintain the premises
The lease defines the landlord’s obligations, which principally are to:
provide the necessary building support and services
maintain the condition of the property
A valid lease creates obligations that survive the death of the landlord or tenant, with certain exceptions
A tenant’s estate remains liable for payment of rent if the tenant dies; the landlord’s estate remains bound to provide occupancy despite the landlord’s death
The landlord may sell, assign, or mortgage the leased fee interest. However,
transferring and encumbering the leased property do not extinguish the obligations and covenants of a lease. Buyers and creditors, therefore, must take their respective interests subject to the terms of the lease.
State contract laws determine the requirements for a valid lease. These laws generally require the following conditions.
-Parties
-property description
-exclusive possession
-legal and permitted use
-consideration
-offer and acceptance
-signatures
-oral us written from
Lease contract requirements: Parties
The principal parties must be legally able to enter into the agreement; i.e., meet certain age, sanity, and other requirements.
Lease contract requirements: property description
The lease must identify the property by legal description or other locally accepted reference.
Lease contract requirements: Exclusive possession.
The landlord must provide an irrevocable right to exclusive possession during the lease term, provided the tenant meets all obligations.
Lease contract requirements: Legal and permitted use.
The intended use of the property must be legal. A use that is legal but not permitted does not invalidate the lease but constitutes grounds for default.
Lease contract requirements: Consideration.
The lease contract must be accompanied by consideration to the landlord for the rights conveyed. How the consideration is paid does not affect the lease’s validity, so long as the parties comply with the terms of the lease.
Lease contract requirements: Offer and acceptance.
The parties must accept the lease, and communicate their acceptance to the other party, for the lease to take legal effect.
Lease contract requirements: Signatures.
The landlord must sign the lease to convey the leasehold interest. A tenant need not sign the lease, although it is prudent to do so in order to enforce the terms of the lease
Lease contract requirements: Oral versus written form.
Generally, a lease for a period exceeding one year cannot be oral but must be in writing to be enforceable because of the Statute of Frauds.
The clauses of a lease define
he contractual relationship between landlord and tenant
The most important and basic clauses in a lease are
-Rent and security deposit.
-Lease term.
-Repairs and maintenance.
-Subletting and assignment.
-Rules and regulations.
-Improvements and alterations.
-Options
-Damage and destruction.
A rent clause stipulates
the time, place, manner and amount of rent payment. It defines any grace period that is allowed, and states the penalties for delinquency.
In the absence of an explicit term with beginning and ending date, a court will
generally construe the lease to be a tenancy at will, cancelable upon proper notice.
Repairs and maintenance provisions define
the landlord’s and tenant’s respective responsibilities for property repairs and maintenance.