Leases Flashcards
What is a lease known as in Section 1 of the LPA 1925?
‘A term of years absolute’
What makes leases ‘proprietorial in nature’?
- Enables transactions - A lease can be transferred to someone else and subleases can be created
- Statutory rights such as Right to Buy and statutory enfranchisement position the lease as a ‘gateway’ to freehold ownership
- Lease enables shared ownership
What makes leases ‘contractual’ in nature?
The lease sets out the contractual relationship between the landlord and tenant
Bruton v London Quadrant Housing Association [2000] is evidence of increasing contractualisation
What formalities must be satisfied in order to create a lease?
- Must be created by deed if it’s for a term of 3+ years
- New lease of more than 7 years must be registered
- All registrable dispositions of registered leasehold estates must be registered
Leases of land that don’t have to be registered are what?
Overriding interests (Sch 1 para 1 & Sch 3 para 1 LRA 2002) meaning most leases granted for term of 7 years or less
What are the characteristics of lease?
- Common Law definition (a term of years absolute)
- HoL decision in Street v Mountford [2985] = Exclusive possession, for a term, at a rent
Why does the lease/licence distinction matter?
- Marks the border between property and contract
- The residential lease attacks a range of statutory protections and imposes obligations upon the landlord
- Incentive for shams
What would a lessee want to know before signing a lease?
- What are they buying?
- How much is it going to cost them?
- What are their obligations under the lease?
- How can they ensure that the freeholder will carry out its obligations?
What is the main principle of reading/constructing a lease?
Words are taken at their literal meaning - If there is ambiguity then = contra preferentum rule
What was the main issue in the case of Arnold v Britton [2015]?
Issue on this appeal was whether the respondent’s interpretation of clause 3(2) in those 25 leases, where the increase is to be every year, is correct
Appellants argument is that the actual costs of maintain ace should be paid, up to the permitted level.
In enforcing covenants in leases, what are the landlord’s express obligations?
- Usually, responsibilities for repair, insurance, maintenance
- In long leases, tenant pays via service charges
- In short leases, the costs are covered by rent
What are the implied obligations of a landlord?
- Covenant for quiet enjoyment
- Covenant against derogation from grant
What tenant obligations exist?
Express: Generally intensive ranging from obligation yo pay rent to restrictions on ability to assign the tenancy or to sublet whole or part
Implied: Warren v Keen 1954, behave in a Tennant like manner
What 3 things help enforce landlord’s obligations?
- No straightforward entitlement to withhold rent
- Possible damages for breach of covenant
- For long leases, possibility of appointment of a manager under CALRA 2002
What remedies are available to the landlord for tenant default?
- Forfeiture of lease
- Distress for unpaid rent
- Action for arrears of rent
- Damages for breach of covenant
- Injunction and specific performance