Landlord & Tenant Flashcards
What is tenancy for years?
Estate measured by fixed & ascertainable amount of time
- Can be any length of time
How is tenancy for years created?
By agreement b/w LL & T
- SOF applies if longer than 1 year - must be in writing
- if Lease subj. to SOF, voidable until:
- T takes poss. AND
- LL accepts rent
- if Lease subj. to SOF, voidable until:
How is tenancy for years terminated?
- At end of term - Auto. at expiration of the term AND
- No notice required
- Right to renew agreement must be explicitly set out in th elease
- Prior to end of term, examples
- T surrenders leasehold,
- breach of lease covenant gives rise to right to term.
What is a periodic tenancy?
- Repetitive, ongoing estate
- measured by a set period of time
- BUT has no predetermined termination date
- Auto. renews at end of each pd. unless valid termination notice
Periodic Tenancy & Statute of Frauds
- SOF doesn’t apply b/c its nature is that it is for a non-fixed term
What are the requirements to terminate a periodice tenancy?
Since it auto. renews, notice is req.
- Notice must be given b/f the beginning of the intended last period
- Late notice - effective for the next period
- Notice of term. is effective as of the last day of the pd.
- e.g. end of month for month to month tenancy that began on the 1st
What is Tenancy at Will?
Leasehold that:
- doesn’t have a specific term AND
- continues until terminated by either LL or T
How is Tenancy at Will Created?
- By express agreement OR
- by implication if pers. is allowed to occupy the premises (such as when Ps are negotiating the lease_
How is Tenancy at Will Terminated?
- By either party without advance notice OR
- T must be given reas. time to vacate prem.
- Most States (by statute) req. party give notice to term.
- By operation of law upon death of either party
- b/c of waste
- assignment by tenant or
- upon transfer or lease of prop. to 3d party by LL
What is the effect If the Tenancy at Will agreement gives only the LL the right to terminate at will? the Tenant?
If LL given right, A reciprocal right of the tenante to terminate at will is implied
BUT if T given right, LL is not given a similar right
What is Tenancy at Sufferance?
A holdover Tenancy - Created by actions of Tenant alone
- Period of time after the expiration of a lease where the T remains on the prem.
- T is bound by the terms of the lease that existed b/f expiration, including payment of rent
What becomes of a holdover tenant?
Depends on LL’s wishes, T becomes a:
- Periodic Tenant, if LL wants the tenant (LL accepts rent fron the holdover tenant) OR
- Tenant at sufferance, if the LL doesn’t want the tenant (LL didn’t accpet rent from the holdover tenant)
If a holdover tenant becomes a periodic tenant, what is the period?
The period for which rent is paid
How is a tenancy at sufferance terminated?
- Tenant vacates the prem
- LL evicts the tenant OR
- LL binds tenant to a new periodic tenancy
What are the duties of the Tenant?
- Duty to pay rent
- Avoid wast
- Repair
What are tenant’s defenses to paying rent?
- Destruction of the Premises AND
- So long as tenant didn’t cause the destruction
- Material breach by the landlord
Affirmative Waste
A tenant is prohibited from committing vol. waste
Amerliorative Waste
- Tenant can make changes to the phys. cond. that increase the prop. value if reas. nec. for T to use the rpop. in a reas. manner
- Unless LL & T agree otherwise
- Restatement (second) of Prop. - LL requires advance permission
Permissive Waste
- T has duty to repair prem. to extent nec. to maintain the prem. in their pre-rental conditon
- Exception - normal wear & tear
Contractual Duty to Repair - Nonresidential Lease
Tenant is liab. for all damage to the prop. unless LL caused the damage
Contractual Duty to Repair - Residential Lease
Generally void, but tenant may be required to notify LL of the need for repairs
What are Landlord’s remedies if Tenant fails to pay rent?
- Sue for both damages & to remove T from the Prop.
- Agreement to pay rent by certain date is material term in the lease
- Thus, late payment is a material breach of the lease so LL can bring action for damages