Property Flashcards
Severance of Joint Tenancy
SAP (Sale and Partition)
- sale disrupts the four unities
- the buyer becomes a tenant in common
How to create a Joint Tenancy
T-TIP
T: at the same time
T: By the same title (same deed, will, or other document of title)
I: with identical, equal interests
P: with rights to possess the whole
May a joint tenant secretly transfer their interest?
Yes
What happens to a Tenancy by the Entirety upon divorce?
It becomes a tenancy in common.
Rents and Profits from co-tenants
Must share rent according to the co-tenants’ respective interests in the property.
3 types of waste
Voluntary waste
Permissive waste
Ameliorative
Tenancy for years:
1) Definition
2) Creation
3) Termination
1) Tenancy that lasts for some fixed period of time.
2) “to T for 10 years”
3) Terminates at the end of the stated period without either party giving notice.
Periodic Tenancy
1) Definition
2) Creation
3) Termination
1) Tenancy for some fixed period that continues for succeeding periods until either party gives notice of termination.
2) “To T from month to month”
3) Termination by notice from one party at least equal to the length of the time period (Exception: Only one month’s notice, or 6 months at common law, is required to terminate a year-to-year tenancy)
Tenancy at Will
1) Definition
2) Creation
3) Termination
1) Tenancy of no stated duration that lasts as long as both parties desire.
2) “To T for and during the pleasure of L)
3) Usually terminates after one party displays an intention that the tenancy should come to an end. May also end by operation of law (e.g death of party, attempt to transfer interest).
Tenancy at Sufferance
1) Definition
2) Creation
3) Termination
1) Tenant wrongfully holds over after termination of the tenancy.
2) T’s lease expires, but T continues to occupy the premises
3) Terminates when landlord evicts tenant or elects to hold tenant to another term.
Exception to the holdover doctrine
1) the tenant remains in possession for only a few hours
2) the delay is not the tenant’s fault
Tenant’s duty to repair when lease is silent
Tenant has a duty to maintain the premises , and tenant must not commit waste.
Tenant duty to repair with an express covenant in the lease:
Residential Tenant: even if resident covenants to repair, landlord still must repair under “implied warranty of habitability.”
Nonresidential Tenant: Covenant to repair is enforceable.
Note: repair covenants typically exclude ordinary wear and tear.
Landlord Remedies if tenant breaches but is out of possession:
SIR:
Surrender: Treat the tenant’s abandonment as an implicit offer of surrender, and end the lease.
Ignore the abandonment and hold the tenant responsible for the unpaid rent (minority of states allow this)
Re-let the premises on the wrongdoer tenant’s behalf, and hold the wrong-doer tenant liable for any deficiency (majority of states)
Ways to breach implied covenant of quiet enjoyment:
- Breach by wrongful eviction
- Breach by construction eviction
Implied Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
A tenant has a right to quiet use and enjoyment of the premises with interference from the landlord or a paramount title holder
How can a landlord breach by constructive eviction?
SING
Substantial Interference
Notice
Goodbye
T’s entitlement if IWH is breached
MR3 = Move, Repair, Reduce, Remain
- Move out and terminate lease
- Repair and Deduct from rent
- Reduce rent or withhold all rent until the court determines fair rental value
Remain in possession and seek money damages.
Assignment by Landlord
1) Consent
2) Privity of estate
3) Privity of contract
4) Liability for Covenants in Lease
1) Tenant’s consent not required
2) Assignee and tenant are in privity of estate
3) Assignee and tenant are not in privity of contract; Original landlord and tenant remain in privity of contract.
4) Assignee liable to tenant on all covenants that run with the land. Original landlord remains liable on all covenants in the lease.
Assignment by Tenant
1) Consent
2) Privity of estate
3) Privity of contract
4) Liability for Covenants in Lease
1) Landlord’s consent may be required by lease.
2) Assignee and landlord are in privity of estate
3) Assignee and landlord are not in privity of contract. Original tenant and landlord remain in privity of contract.
4) Assignee liable to landlord on all covenants that run with the land. Original tenant remains liable for rent and ALL other covenants in the lease.
Sublease by tenant
1) Consent
2) Privity of estate
3) Privity of contract
4) Liability for Covenants in Lease
1) Landlord’s consent may be required by lease
2) Sublessee and landlord are not in privity of estate. Original tenant remains in privity of estate with landlord.
3) Sublessee and landlord are not in privity of contract. Original tenant and landlord remain in privity of contract.
4) Sublessee is not personally liable on any covenants in the original lease and cannot enforce the landlord’s covenants. Original tenant remains liable for rent and all other covenants in the lease and can enforce the landlord’s covenants.
When do covenants run with the land?
When they “touch or concern” the land (benefit the landlord and burdens the tenant or vice verse w/r/t their interest in the property).