MBE Property Flashcards
Joint Tenancy
Two or more own with the right of survivorship
Tenancy by the Entirety
A protected marital interest between spouses with the right of survivorship
Tenancy in Common
Two or more own without the right of survivorship
What is needed to create a joint tenancy?
TTIP
Time: @ the same time
Title: same title (will, deed, etc.)
Interest: identical, equal interests
Possess: rights to possess the whole
Severance of a Joint Tenancy results in a
Tenancy in Common
Severance of a Joint Tenancy – S and P
Sale and Partition
Three types of partition:
1) voluntary agreement
2) Partition in Kind (a judicial action)
3) Forced Sale (a judicial action)
How to severe a Tenancy by the Entirety?
death, divorce, mutual agreement, or execution by a joint creditors of both the spouses.
What are all Co-Tenants Entitled to?
(1) Rent from a Third Party and
(2) Reimbursement for costs of necessary repairs
Are co-tenants entitled to reimbursement for improvements to the property?
No
A co-tenant must not commit waste. What are the 3 types of waste?
- Voluntary Waste: willful destruction
- Permissive Waste: neglect
- Ameliorative Waste: unilateral change that increases the value
Tenancy for Years
lasts for a fixed, determined period of time.
NOTE: watch for a term date. If you have a term date from the start it’s a tenancy for years.
How does a Tenancy for Years terminate?
Automatically at its term date
How are Tenancy for Years created?
a written lease as required by the SOF
Periodic Tenancy
continues for a specific period (weekly/monthly) until terminated upon proper notice.
How is a Periodic Tenancy created?
(a) Express agreement
(b) implication if rent is paid at specific periods OR
(c) law (when a tenant for years remains after term of the period or lease is invalid)
Termination of a Periodic Tenancy
written notice at least a full period in advance
Tenancy at Will
continues until either party terminates it
“to T for as long as L or T desires”
Creation of a Tenancy at Will
Express agreement
Termination of a Tenancy at Will
notice and reasonable time to quit the premises OR
operation of law (e.g. due to death or commission of waste).
Tenancy at Sufferance / Hold-Over
Created when a tenant wrongfully holds over – remains in possession past the expiration of the lease
Termination of a Tenancy at Sufferance/ Hold-Over
Lasts only until the Landlord either evicts the tenant or elects to hold the tenant over (hold the tenant to a new tenancy)
No notice of termination is required.
Tenants have a duty to pay rent that runs with the land. If a tenant remains on the land & does not pay rent, the landlord can:
(a) Evit the tenant OR
(b) Allow the tenant to remain on the property and sue for damages.
May a Landlord engage in self-help if the tenant does not pay rent?
NO – it is flatly outlawed and is punishable civilly and criminally
the landlord must not engage in self-help like changing the locks, forcibly removing the tenant, or removing any of the tenant’s possessions.
A tenant wrongfully vacates with time left on the lease. What are the landlord’s options?
SIR
Surrender
Ignore
Re-let the premises
Under the majority rule, the landlord must at least TRY to re-let to mitigate costs.
Implied Warranty of Habitability
Landlord MUST provide a place to live that is habitable (reasonably suitable for human needs)
if the Implied Warranty of Habitability is breached then the tenant may:
M R 3: Move, Repair, Reduce, Remain
a) move out & terminate the lease;
b) withhold or reduce the rent;
c) repair the issue & deduct the cost; OR
d) remain on the premises & sue for damages.
Constructive Eviction occurs when:
1) Landlord breached a duty to the tenant;
2) The breach caused a loss of the substantial
use and enjoyment of the premises;
3) Tenant gave landlord notice of the condition;
4) Landlord failed to remedy the condition within
a reasonable time; AND
5) Tenant vacated the premises.
*If constructive eviction occurs, the tenant may terminate the lease and seek damages.
Under Residential Leases, the Landlord has a duty to:
(1) repair common areas, AND
(2) warn of latent defects that create a risk of serious harm that the landlord knows of (or should know of).
The Fair Housing Act does NOT apply to
(1) owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units in which persons live independently of each other and
(2) single-family homes sold or rented by an owner who owns no more than three single-single family homes
The Fair Housing Act
protects tenants and potential tenants from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability, as well as familial status (except senior housing).
When the Fair Housing Act applies, landlords must permit disabled tenants to:
Make reasonable modifications to the premises to accommodate their disabilities at the tenant’s own expense.
Assignment of a Lease
when a tenant transfers ALL of his remaining lease interest to a third-party.
A lease may be freely assigned UNLESS the lease states otherwise.
− An assignment CANNOT be for a longer period than the remaining lease term.
Assignee and Assignor liability for Rent/ Breach
− Assignee → liable to the landlord for rent and all
other covenants that run with the land (privity of
estate).
− Assignor (Original Tenant) → also remains
liable for rent (privity of contract).
Sublease
when a tenant (sublessor) transfers ONLY SOME of his remaining lease interest.
The tenant may freely sublet UNLESS a provision in the lease states otherwise.
− A sublease CANNOT be for a longer period than the remaining lease term.
Sublease liability for Rent
Sublessee is NOT liable to the landlord for rent or other covenants (there is no privity of estate).
Sublessor (original tenant) remains liable to landlord for rent (privity of contract).
Caveat Lessee
The common law doctrine-
it was the tenant’s responsibility to research leased premises before agreeing to a lease and that the landlord was not responsible for the defective condition of the leased premises;
Five (5) Exceptions to Caveat Lessee (CLAPS)
CLAPS
Common Areas: duty of reasonable care in maintaining common areas
Latent Defects: duty to warn of hidden defects (dangerous conditions)
Assumption of Repairs: must repair with reasonable care
Public Use Rule: liable for any defects on the premises that cause injury to members of the public
Short-term of furnished dwelling: stricter duty– responsible for any defective condition which proximately injures a tenant.
Fixture
a fixture is a chattel that has been so affixed to the land that is has ceased being personal property and has become a part of the realty.