Leases Flashcards
Is a lease capable of being legal?
Yes, s 1(1)(b) - term of years absolute in possession
What are the formalities needed for a legal lease?
Lease for more than 3 years : deed is required
Lease for less: no formalities needed. Parol leases.
When will equity intervene with a lease?
Where there is a contract to create or transfer
Where there is an attempt to make a deed, but it is not valid
How can a equitable lease be made by a contract?
Valid contract, s 2 LPMPA
Must be a contract
Must comply with s 2
Must have clean hands
What is an estate contract?
A contract to transfer existing legal estate. Equitable right
What are the essential characteristics of a lease?
3 essential requirements:
Must be for a duration permitted for a leasehold estate
Must be given exclusive possession
Grant must have correct formalities
What happens if one or more of the essential characteristics of a leaes are missing?
Then there will be a licence, not a lease.
What is the difference between a lease and a licence
Lease:
Creates proprietary right in land that can bind purchaser. Leaes can be assigned to new tenant adn leaes continues, occupier with benefit has statutory protections
Licence:
Creates only a personal right that doesnt bind buyer. Cannot be assigned, licensees in occupation do not benefit from statutory protection.
What is the permitted duration for a lease?
Must have a definable end. This is a fixed ascertianable period.
Can be fixed pr periodic.
What is exclusive possession?
A grant of anything less than exclusive possession will not create a leasehold estate, will create a licence.
Exclusive possession:
Tenant may exclude al from he land,
Exclusive possession extends beyond mere occupation.
What are examples of licences?
Landowner retains control
Service occupancies
Flat sharing agreements
If no payment of rent (therefore informal)
What s the relationship between landlord and tenant in a leases?
Lease is a contract which creates an estate in land. There is an agreement between them.
Ther are leases covenants that are agreed through negotiation between Landlrod and tenant.
What are examples of tenant covenants?
Rent
Contribution to insurance
Repair
Alterations
Alienation
What are examples of landlords covenants?
Quiet enjoyment (means tenants lawful possession will not be substantially interfered with by acts of landlord)
Insurance
Obligations in respect of fitness of property (keep in repair the structure and exterior of house)
What is an assignment?
This is when the tenant passes their interest under the lease to anew tenant, and steps out of the picture.
No new lease is created, the lease jst changes hands.
What is alienation?
Menas the disposal of the existing and remaining leasehold estate by the tenant
What is a sublease?
A lesser estate, which is CARVED out of the superior estate. A new leaes is created, must have a shorter duration that the headlease
What are examples of alienation?
Assignment
Sub-leaes
Mortgage/charge
Parting with possession
What are the 4 positions of alienation, depending on the alienation covenant nature?
Open contract position : lease does not contain a covenant against alienation, tenant has complete freedom
Absolute prohibition - not alowed under any circumstnace
Qualified covenant - covenant by tenant is not to assign without landlord consent
Fully qualified covenant - consent cannot be unreasonably withheld
What does s 19 LTA do to alienation covenants?
It translates any qualified covenant into a fully qualified covenant, therefore cannot unreasonably withhold consent.
What must the landlord do with a fully qualified covenant?
Give consent, unless reasonably not to
To give written notice of their decision, including any conditions
Where consent is withheld, written reasons for refusal.
What are the 2 sets of rules governing how covenants in leases are enforced?
Leases created befoer 1 jan 196 (old leases)
Leases created after 1 jan 1996 (new leases)