Landlord and Tenant Lvl3 Flashcards
What is a Lease?
A lease is a legally binding contract which grants the lessee with an estate in the land or property. The lease sets out the terms and conditions and right and obligations of the tenancy.
What is a Licence?
A licence is an agreement which grants permission for the licensor to use the land or property.
What is the difference between a Lease and a Licence?
- A lease grant the occupier with an estate in the land / property. A licence does not
- A lease can be assigned. A licence can not
- A lease is difficult to terminate. I licence can be revoked easily
- A lease can give right to renewal. I licence does not
- Street V. Mountford 1985
What are some landlord covenants?
- Repair and maintain
- Insure premises
- Rebuild in the case where the building has been damaged / destroyed
- Give peaceful enjoyment
What are some tenant covenants?
- Repair and maintain
- Pay all liabilities
- To not create a nuisance
- Vacant possession on the cessation of the lease
What are some clauses?
- User clause
- Exclusivity clause
- Keep open clause
What does “contracted out” mean?
Renounced rights under L&T 1980/94
What is tenancy at will?
Occupied at the will of the landlord. Short term. Still allows exclusive possession
What is assignment of the lease?
Assignment of the lease is a legal process where the entirety of the lease is transferred from one party to another. The assignee assumes all responsibility for the performance of the lease post assignment whilst the assignor is absolved of performance.
What is subletting?
Subletting is where a tenant enters into their own sub-agreement of part or whole of the demise. Tenant is still liable for the performance of the lease
Can I landlord refuse assignment or subletting
No a landlord cannot unreasonably withhold a request for either
When can a landlord refuse an assignment/ sublet?
- Doesn’t align with landlord’s commercial goals
- Assignee is not of appropriate covenant
- Disruption to existing tenancy mix
- Inappropriate user
- Effect insurance
What is the process for requesting an assignment /Sublet?
Initial Steps
- Review lease
- Seek landlord permission
- Prepare information
Formal Application
- Assignment / Sublet Agreement - Outlines the transfer
- Application to landlord - Formal application to L/L containing assignment agreement/ assignee info and other relevant documentation
- Negotiation - Landlord will negotiate specific clause
What is the process of terminating a lease as a tenant?
- Surrender - Tenant hands back leasehold interest in the property prematurely
What are the four requirements for a lease?
- Exclusive Occupation
- Payment of rent
- Duration for a specified term
- Terms in writing, signed and registered as a deed
Can a wayleave be transferred to another company?
No, it is personal to the company
What is a wayleave?
- Temporary right to access
- Receives annual payment
- Electricity company to install / service equipment
What does a wayleave look like on an ordinance survey map?
Wayleaves are often shown as lines on the map. The line thickness and style might vary, but they are usually distinct from property boundaries.
Labels are crucial for identification. An wayleave might be labeled with its purpose (e.g., “Right of Way”, “Drainage Easement”), beneficiary (e.g., “ESB Wayleave”), or reference number.
What is an easement?
- Permanent right of way
- Over the land of another party
- Capital compensation
Can an easement be registered at the land registry?
Yes
What can be claimed as a result of continued and uninterrupted use over 20 years?
Prescriptive right of way
What impact does “Without Prejudice” have during a period of negotiations?
- Discussion from that point onwards cannot be used as evidence
- Allows parties to negotiate free from compulsion
- Cannot be shown to arbitrator / independent expert if express in review
What is subject to contract?
- Offer is subject to other terms and conditions being met
What needs to be agreed at the start of an instruction?
Terms of Engagement
What should you understand in terms of your clients?
- Commercial objective
- Strategy
What documents should be obtained for a rent review?
- Copy lease
- Plans attached to lease or Deeds of Variation
- Copies of any licences e.g. alterations, improvements, sub-letting or assignment
- Copies of rent review memorandums
How would you arrange an inspection?
Obtain contact details of tenant or agent
What should be agreed in terms of serving notices?
Confirm who is responsible for serving
What should you check before issuing terms of engagement?
- Competent
- No personal interest of conflict
What is the rent review process?
- TOE
- Clients objectives
- Review lease, contract out, RR clause
- Time of the essence?
- Check notice requirements and time limits for implementing RR
- Inspect and measure
- Compile comps and analyise comps
- Value in accordance with the lease
- Report to client and agree strategy
- Negotiate
- Settle/ Refer to 3rd party - Review ADR clause
- Document and instruct solicitors
- Invoice
- Note next lease event
What is contained in a rent review notice?
- Refer to lease
- Party details
- Property address
- Note specific clause allowing review and state review date
- Proposed new rent (confirm)
- Timeline for response if one is applicable.
What are some standard RR assumptions?
- Hypothetical term
- Open market
- Willing parties
- Fit for immediate occupation
- User stated in lease
- Vacant possession
What are some standard disregards?
- Goodwill
- Improvement
- Occupancy
- Inducements
How do you activate 3rd party Arbitration / Independent Expert
- Consult lease
- “Demand for arbitration”
- “Notice of dispute”
What has the Arbitration Act 2010 brought in?
- Modernised and improved arbitration in Ireland
- Adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law (International Best Practice)
- Recognition and enforcement of international arbitration awards
- Streamlined procedures
- Clarity on arbitrator immunity
- Improved confidentiality
- Repeal of previous legislation (54/98)
What is difference between Arbitrator and Independent Expert?
- Role - Arbitrator resolves dispute with a legally binding decision / Independent Expert provides and expert opinion on an issue
- Process - Arbitrator bound by arbitration act and common law. They base there decision on the cases presented by both parties / Conducts their own independent investigation, may involve consultation with both parties
- Authority - Arbitrator issues a final and binding award / Independent Expert issues their determination, not legally binding
- Appointment - Both are normally appointed by the involved parties of President of the SCSI
- Expertise - Arbitrator may not posses expert skills in the particular field / Independent Expert possesses expert skills in the particular field
- Other - Arbitrator can request discovery and award costs / Independent Expert cannot.
What are the grounds for challenging an award?
- Serious irregularity - Biased/ Denial of fair hearing
- Award being in conflict with public policy - Contradicts fundamental legal policy
- Error of law on the face of the award - Clear mistake in applying the law
- Award procured by fraud or corruption
Extremely hard to challenge due to the finality of the award.
What are the primary L&T Acts, and what are their significance
L&T 1860 (Deasys Act)
- Lease is a contract
- Longer than 1 year needs to be in writing
L&T (Ground Rents) 1978
- Section 9/ 10 sets out right yo obtain the fee simple
L&T 1980
- Right to renew
- Defined business and tenement
- Section 66 outline L/L cannot unreasonably withold request to assign / sub or improve
- Comp for Distirbance / Improvement
L&T 1984
- Increased right for sporting tenants / leases
L&T 1994
- Business equity increased form 3 - 5 years
- 4 Yr 9 month leases
- DOR for Office
- Changed the length of the term requested to 5 - 20 yrs
Civil Law Mischelanious Provisions Act 2008
- Section 47 allowed for all to sign DOR
- Tenant must receive legal advice prior to signing
Land and conveyancing law reform act 2009
- Ban on upward only rent reviews from 28th Feb 2010
Arbitration Act 10
- Flexibility
- Confidentiality
- Speed
- Expertise
- Enforcability
Residential Tenancies Act 2019
- Notice period increased from 90 - 180 days
- Annual Registrations
- RTB determinations are published on website
- Greater powers to RTB to investigate breaches in regulation
- Penalties for improperly increasing rent
What are tenants’ rights to renew?
Business Equity (5 Yr/ 5-20 yr)
Long Term Equity (Fixed at 35 yr)
Improvement Equity (Value great than half rental value)