Landlord & Tenant Flashcards
What information should you source before starting and instruction?
- Conflict check
- Terms of engagement
- Copy of lease, deeds, plans, RR memos
- Management info
- Licences
- Contact details
- Comps held by client
What might be the basis of a fee in a L&T instruction?
- % new rent
- % saving from quoting
- fixed
- hourly (using third party matters)
- incentivised
Please explain the step by step process of a L&T instruction.
- conflict check
- terms of engagement
- understand objectives
- review relevant documents
- LR protected? RR time of essence?
- inspect and measure
- MR val
- Report recommendations
- agree strategy and get instruction
- negotiate
- LR instruct sols. RR document memos.
What is the significance of a “without prejudice & subject to contract offer”?
Without prejudice = during negotiations, opposition cannot rely on documents labelled like this in litigation. In RR, cannot be seen by Arb / IE
Subject to contract = until the contract completes, this cannot be taken as binding
How does a licence differ from a lease?
It is a personal agreement that creates a right to enter a property. It does not acquire any interest in that property, so can be terminated at any time by either party.
What is the key caselaw to determine a lease from a licence?
Street v Mountford
- Exclusive occupation
- Rent
- Term
What is the general valuation basis of a RR?
Market rent
UORR
Time not of the essence
What are the common assumptions at RR?
- Willing LL & T
- VP
- Fit for occupation
- Repair
What are the common disregards at RR?
- Goodwill in the location
- Occupation (Current)
- Improvements
What is the hypothetical term and how who you know what it is at RR?
The assumed term used to calculate a suitable MR at RR.
The lease will usually specify the assumed term in the RR provisions. If it doesn’t, the assumed term is equal to the remainder of the actual term.
How do you know if time is if the essence in a rent review?
It will clearly state it in the rent review provisions. If it isn’t stated, it is assumed time is not of the essence.
United scientific holdings Ltd v Burnley BC
What is a deeming provision?
Clause found in old leases. When the LL specifies the rent in the RR notice, the T must respond with an appropriate counter notice. Failure to do so will set the rent at the LLs proposed level.
What represents the best evidence at RR and what dictates this?
Handbook of Rent Review:
- OML
- RR / LR
- IE determination
- Arb award
- Court determination
Comparable evidence in RE Val, 2019
- Direct comparables
- General market data
- Other sources
What is the purpose of a Calderbank?
The achieve an early resolution and to prevent costs from escalating.
Please outline the key elements of a calderbank.
Must be a genuine offer, not just a pressure mechanism.
Labelled “without predict & subject to COSTS”
Set time limit, usually 21 days but can be less.
Losing side at third party or costs incurred after time limit will be paid by other side.
What is the cost of an RICS DRS a application?
£425
Please describe the key elements of an arbitrator.
- Arbitration act, 1996
- can award costs
- can only use evidence submitted
- must find between parties ranges
- can order disclosure (s34)
- immune to negligence
- can be appealed
- Irregularity
- Point of law
- Jurisdiction
Please outline the key features of an independent expert.
- RICS GN ‘IE determination, 2016’
- make own investigations
- no power of disclosure
- costs depend on lease. At best, can only award own costs
- can be negligent
- cannot be appealed
What are the differences between an arbitrator and an Independent expert?
Arb / IE
Evidence provided / own evidence
Appeal / No appeal
No negligence / negligence
Disclosure / no disclosure
All costs / limited to no costs
If you were acting for a tenant in a falling market, would you prefer an arb or IE? Why?
IE - Often have more detailed understanding of the market and can make own investigations. They will appreciate market is falling and are more likely to find in your favour.
If you were acting for a tenant in a rising market, would you prefer and arb or IE? Why?
Arb - they are reliant on the evidence provided to them and cannot make their own investigations. Decision also has to be fully based on the evidence so cannot make an inference regarding the market.
If you were acting for a landlord in a rising market, would you prefer an arb or IE? Why?
IE - more detailed knowledge of the market and ability to make their own investigations.
If you were acting for a landlord in a falling market, would you rather have an Arb or IE? Why?
Arb - reliant on the evidence provided and cannot make an inference as to the state of the market.
What is an advocate?
Represents a client at a court hearing. Duty is to the client, not the court.
What governs expert witnesses?
RICS GN ‘Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 2014’
What are the key elements of ‘Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 2014’?
- Duty to the court, not the client
- Impartial evidence
- Evidence must be independent work
- Must believe in facts, evidence, opinion
What are the key elements of a RRM?
- Names
- Address
- Dates (current and RR)
- New rent
- Signed
What defines a business tenancy?
S23 LTA 1954 (II)
- Is a tenancy
- Used for business
- Occupation of at least part
- Occupation min. 6 months
- Must not be exempt tenancy
- Competent LL
What allows a protected lease to ‘hold over’?
S24 LTA 1954 (II)
Please explain the key elements of a S25 notice.
Max 12 months, no less than 6 months.
Relates to whole demise
States termination date
Must be hostile (w/ s30 ground) or non-hostile (w/ new lease terms)
What are the key elements of a S26 notice?
Max 12 months, no less than 6 months.
State proposal for new lease terms.
If LL opposes renewal, 2 months to counter notice.
What is a S27 notice?
Tenant notice to terminate the lease, not renewing.
Min 3 months notice. Once served, irreversible.
T can vacate property before contractual end date meaning no notice required.
—> esselte AB v Pearl Assurance PLC, 1997
How would you advise a landlord in a rising market at LR?
If the market looks likely to continue to rise, serve 12 month notice. If rising but could taper off, 6 month notice. Could also not serve a notice but rental uplift could be some time away.
How would you advise a landlord in a falling market at LR?
I would recommend serving a 6 month notice ASAP to limit the fall in the market rent. Alternatively, could not serve notice to continue to collect the higher rent but risks T serving notice.
What are the various grounds under section 30 of LTA 1954 (II)?
- Breach in repair covenant
- Persistent delay in paying rent
- Other substantial breach
- Alternative accommodation
- Uneconomic sub-division
- Development
- Owner occupation
Which of the S30 grounds are discretionary? Which require reasonable intention? Which require compensation?
Discretionary = repair breach, rent delays, other substantial breach, alternative accommodation and uneconomic sub-division.
Reasonable intention = alternative accommodation, development, owner occupation
Compensation = uneconomic sub-division, development, owner occupation
What are some key bits of caselaw relating to s30 grounds?
Development
—>S. Francis Ltd v cavendish hotel (London)
Rent delays
—> Vivienne Westwood v conduit st. Devs
Owner occupation
—> associated British ports v Humber oil
What section governs compensation for protected leases? What are the rules?
S37
Sub-14 yrs continuous = 1 x RV
Plus-14 yrs continuous = 2 x RV
LTA 1927
Compensation for tenants improvements
What is the maximum term for a new lease determined by the court?
15 years
When is the valuation date in a lease renewal?
The valuation date will be the day of commencement for the new lease.
If the renewal goes to court, the valuation date will be 3 months 21 days after the court determination.
- 3 months for T to serve S27
- 21 days to appeal court decision
What section governs interim rent? Please could you provide some detail as to the purpose and process of interim rent.
S24a
The rent payable by a business tenant between the termination of their old tenancy and commencement of the new tenancy.
Either LL or T can apply. ‘Appropriate date’ is always 6 months from the service of the notice. It assumes an annual tenancy at MR.
How would a tenant who is unsure who their landlord is find this out?
Serve a S40 notice. Can be served in final two years of tenancy by either side. No limit on how often it can be served. Other side must respond in one month.
Purpose is to allow a party to know who they should be serving their notice to.
What constitutes a “competent LL”?
Set out in S44. This is who a tenant must serve notice to.must either be:
- the freeholder
- a leaseholder with more than 14 months remaining in their lease.
What are the third party dispute options at lease renewal?
County Court or PACT
Please could you give an overview of a count court lease renewal?
Governed by Civil Procedure Rules, 1998.
Presentations of evidence are made to the court where upon a judge will determine the final verdict.
Can be slow, costly and uncertain.
Can a calderbank be served at a lease renewal?
No, a calderbank can only be served at a rent review. There is a lease renewal alternative knows as a ‘Part 36 offer’ under the civil procedure rules. It’s open for 21 days and must be a genuine attempt to settle.
Please could you outline what PACT is?
PACT under the RICS and Law Society, 1997.
Professional arbitration on court terms. Makes the LR become more similar to a RR. Parties decide what is agreed and what isn’t. The RICS or Law Society then appoint an arbitrator to give a binding decision.
What are the benefits of PACT?
Surveyor not judge
Faster
Cheaper
More flexible
Avoids court
What covers the process of a lease renewal outside of the protection of LTA 1954 (II)?
S38a LTA 1954
At end of lease, T has no right to renew. For lease to be contracted out, must clearly say it. Lease that says nothing is contracted in.