prop man Flashcards
Break clauses requirements
Vacant possession
no breaches in lease
no arrears
good state of repair (reinstated)
what would you first do when receiving a break clause
notify the client lawyer to ask if it has been served correctly, notify client
What about rent payable for break period
Read the lease, the full quarter would be payable and no refund unless there are explicit provisions in the lease.
Not to be unreasonably with held or delayed act?
L&T 1927 -
Use of accounts for covenant strength
Profits test 3x rent
All assets less liability = net worth stable over a 3 year period
Impact of covid 19 – Moratorium ?
Moratorium
- Restrictions on enforcement options for landlords
- CRAR prohibited unless a tenant owes more than 554 days of unpaid rent which pre dated the pandemic
- Insolvency protection for companies
- Statutory demands & winding up petitions prohibited where the companys inability to pay rent is the result of covid 19 n
- Moratorium preventing creditors taking actions during the period of protection
- Moratorium on forfeiture
- Suspension of the right to forfeit commercial leases for non-payment of rent – protection ended 24 march 2022
- Commercial rent act 2022 now in effect
- Protected vs un protected debt
Concession to combat ? covid arrears
Rent deferments
- No rent for a period of time, pay back monthly instalments
- Betting that we will be paid back later, could be a risk
Rent concessions
- Remove break option increase the term certain of the lease via deed of variation
- Provide additional rent free
- Increases capital value
Rent deposits
- There for that reasons, however uses up liquidity and back up, less guarantees
Guarantors and former tenants (AGA)
- Pursued
- Via section 17 notice within 6 months of tenant defaulting
Generally LBA (letter before actions) starts conversation vs actually actions
Ring fenced income
- All of debt 21 march 2020 to 25 march 2022 (different for each sector) ring fenced and protected, cant send bailiffs out
Give me some specific lease terms that influence the governing of property ?
Repairs, I would be asked which was liable for the repair of certain areas of a property. Check repairing provision. External repairs included ? FRI ?
Key drivers of value in a lease?
- Term
- Passing rent
- Rent reviews (OMR or fixed? Or RPI?)
- Break
- Incentives
- Exclusions of the act
- Insurance
- Repairs ? – all-inclusive large landlord costs
Lease vs a licence ?
- Street vs Mountford (1985)
- Longer than 6 months
- Exclusive possession (sharing part of a room, no)
- Payment of rent (can be peppercorn)
- Leases can usually be assigned whereas licence is personal to an individual/ entity (usually an alienation clause)
What would happen if you billed someone after expiry and the lease was outside the 54 act?
- It becomes a periodic tenancy
- Can be reversed – raise a credit
- You a referring that they can remain in-situ, can causes implications on whether or not you can force them to vacate
Landlord covenants act 1995 ?
- Assigning of a lease is the end of the direct relationship (abolishment of privity of contract)
What would you do to secure income in the case of an assignment ?
AGA
Rent deposit
What is an aga
An AGA is an agreement which places an obligation on an outgoing tenant to guarantee the performance by the new tenant or “Assignee” of the tenant covenants contained in the lease.
What about repairs from an aga
If the Assignee fails to perform the tenant covenants in the lease (which include payment of rents and repair obligations) the AGA allows the landlord to pursue the outgoing tenant under the terms of the AGA.
How long does an AGA last ?
It is usual that an AGA lasts from the date the outgoing tenant sells their interest in the lease to the Assignee until that Assignee has validly disposed of their interest in the lease to a third party or until the term of the lease comes to an end (whichever is sooner).
However tenant maybe able to negotiate a time limit
When should you require an AGA
The Code for Leasing Business Premises in England and Wales 2007 provides that an AGA should only be required by the landlord if the Assignee is of lower financial standing than the outgoing tenant or if the Assignee is registered or resident overseas. It is suggested that for smaller tenants a landlord should accept a rent deposit from the Assignee instead of an AGA from an outgoing tenant.
When would an aga be void?
Under statute, an AGA is void if it seeks to impose any further liability on the outgoing tenant than that contained in the lease.
Impact of ‘reasonable circumstances’ 1995 act
enants can seek to agree with the landlord that an AGA will only be necessary if the above factors are relevant. Alternatively a tenant can seek to negotiate that any lease expressly states that an AGA will only be provided if at the date of assignment it is “reasonable in the circumstances”. Without the inclusion of the reasonableness wording in a lease a landlord may be able to insist that the outgoing tenant enters into an AGA as a condition of the landlord giving consent to an assignment, even if the covenant strength and financial standing of the Assignee is greater than that of the outgoing tenant.
Consideration for the 54 act with an AGA
If the lease has security of tenure then we should ensure the AGA will extend past the contractual term. ‘during the holding over period’
Leasehold property (repairs) act 1938 and Law of property act 1925
- Serve section 146 notice on the occupier if they are not complying with their repairing covenants
- You have grounds as the landlord to ensure that they do
- First stage to surrendering a lease because they are failing to keep up with they repair
How do you action an aga is defaulting
section 17 notice within 6 months of tenant defaulting
1995 act strict on this
MEES
- Tightening
- 1st april 2018 all new lettings to have E or above
- 1st april 2023 min EPC E for existing tenancies as well
- This has been suggested to rise to C
- Unless valid reasoning
Valid reasoning for not complying with EPC requirements?
- 7 year payback test – obtain 3 quotes, upload copies of costs calculations, exemption last 5 years then the LL must try again
- All improvements made exemption
- Devaluation – making the property more energy efficient would devalue the property by 5%
EPC exemptions
- Listed building
- Temporary building
- Place of worship
- Detached building under 50 square metres
- Due to be demolished
- Vacant
Health and safety at work act 1974 application to management ?
- Puts responsibility of the controller of the space and employer of the time
- Bound to having a fire warded each occupier
- In control of the property I.E. Savills for the common areas, tenants to their demises
- Duty holders are either the landlord or the tenant
- Similar to asbestos – duty hold is the controller of the space
Can you explain some key sections of RICS guidance note commercial property management?
- Highlights PM key duties
- Additional responsibilities
- Provides advice on these
- Occupier liaison – regarding ensuring occupier knows the PM, seeking regular contact with each occupier, emergency contact details.
- Collection of monies – Rent, service change and insurance, Ensuring that information inputted in to our databasing system is accurate (accurate billing), reconciliations.
Please can you talk me through level 2 licence to alter?
- I received request – storage mezzanine
- Read the lease, alterations clause and requested information regarding the works, plans, sketches, as well as RAMS
- Identified that the works would require landlord consent and due to the works being of structural nature review from our building surveyor team
- liaised with the occupier asking them to confirm that they would cover relevant legal and surveyor fee
- After receiving confirmation from the occupier, I requested a review of the plans from a BS team and FM to review the RAMS
- After receiving their confirmation that the works were good and rams satisfactory
- I was then able to recommend to my client that the works go ahead and be documented via a licence to alterations
How did you determine whether the works were structural or not?
- I am not qualified to determine the whether alterations are deemed structural or not, however I will always liaise with my colleagues in BS to confirm whether or not alterations are deemed structural.
How did you determine whether LL consent was required?
- Key terms in the alterations clauses details what sort of alteration will require LL consent I.E. drilling in to the cladding or slab flooring.
What else could you have requested from the tenant before the licence to alter was drafted?
- An undertaking for costs at the commencement of the instruction
What is RAMS and why was it need in this instance?
- Risk assessment Method statement
- It details the potential hazards and risks and a method statement which details step by step guidance to mitigate these risks
- It ensures that the contractors are carry out works with safe working practices are being adhered to, to prevent injury to people on site
What act relates to Not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed
Landlord and tenant 1927 act
What is public liability insurance
provides cover for personal injury, death or damage to third party property. It also provides cover for the claimant’s costs and the insured’s defence costs.