Landlord Tenant Law Flashcards
How is a tenancy for years created?
lease is created for a fixed period of time - when you know the termination date from the
What notice is necessary to terminate a tenancy for years?
no notice - the termination date is in the agreement
L leases Blackacre to T “from January 1, 2011 to July 1, 2011.” what form of tenancy exists here?
a tenancy for a term of years
If a tenancy for a term of years is greater than one year, what must it do to satisfy the Statute of Frauds?
it must be in writing
What is a periodic tenancy?
Lease which continues for successive intervals until L or T give proper notice to terminate
How does one create a periodic tenancy expressly?
“To T, from month to month”
How does one create a periodic tenancy by implication?
- land is leased with no mention of duration, but the provision is made for the payment of rent and it is set at intervals 2. an oral term of years violates the Statute of Frauds, and therefore creates an implied periodic tenancy measured by the way rent is tendered 3. holdover - if L elects to hold over a T who has wrongfully stayed on past the conclusion of the original lease it creates an implied periodic tenancy measured by the way rent is tendered
T rents an apartment from L, beginning June 1. Nothing is said about duration. T pays rent each month. What tenancy exists?
implied month to month periodic tenancy
L and T negotiate on the telephone for a commercial lease. They orally agree on a five-year lease with rent at $1000 a month. T sends L a check for $1000 and L accepts. What tenancy exists here?
an implied periodic tenancy, with intervals based on the way rent is tendered
T holds over after the expiration of her one-year lease, but sends another month’s rent check to L who cases it. What tenancy now exists?
implied month to month periodic tenancy
How does a party terminate a periodic tenancy?
through notice - usually in writing - given at least equal to the length of the period itself unless otherwise agreed or for more than one year (then only 6 months notice necessary)
Can parties lengthen or shorten common-law prescribed notice provisions?
yes - freedom of contract
If you give notice in the middle of your lease, when must the periodic tenancy end?
at the conclusion of the natural lease period
L leased Blackacre to T on January 1, 2010 for a periodic tenancy of month-to-month. On May 15, 2010 T sends written notice of termination. T is bound until when?
June 30th, not June 15th - because June 30th is the natural end of the lease
What is a tenancy at will?
tenancy for no fixed duration
How do you create a tenancy at will?
“To T for as long as T or L desires”
Must the parties expressly agree to a tenancy at will?
yes
if the parties do not expressly agree to a tenancy at will, the payment of regular rent will cause a court to treat this as what sort of tenancy?
an implied periodic tenancy
How do you terminate a tenancy at will?
either party at any time - but only a reasonable demand to vacate is allowed
How do you create a tenancy at sufferance?
when T wrongfully holds over past the expiration of the lease
Why do we create tenancy at sufferances?
so that L can recover rent
When does a tenancy at sufferance end and how?
the tenancy lasts only until L either evicts T or holds T to a new tenancy
What are a T’s liability to third parties?
responsible for keeping the premises in good repair if 3d party invitee sustains injuries, T is liable even where L promised to make all repairs
What are T’s duties to repair when the lease is silent?
T must maintain premises and make ordinary repairs and must not commit waste (voluntary, permissive, ameliorative)
If a T removes a fixture when she leaves the land, has she committed waste?
yes - she commits voluntary waste (overt destruction)
What is a “fixture”?
a once movable chattel that, by virtue of its annexation to realty objectively shows the intent to permanently improve the realty
If T installs a fixture, can she remove it?
NO - T must not remove a fixture, no matter that she installed it Fixtures pass with the ownership of land
Do fixtures pass with the ownership of land?
YES
How do you tell if a tenant installation qualifies as a fixture?
- express agreement controls 2. in absence of an agreement, T may remove chattel that she has installed so long as removal does not cause substantial harm to premises
If the removal of chattel that T installed will cause substantial damage, in objective judgment T has shown what?
the intent to install a fixture - and the fixture stays put
What are T’s duties to repair when T has expressly covenanted in the lease to maintain the property in good condition for the duration of the lease?
common law, historically: T was liable for any loss to the property, including loss due to force of nature today, majority: T may end the lease if the premises are destroyed without T’s fault