Property Flashcards
what four unities must be present in order to create a joint tenancy?
- Time
- Title
- Interest
- Possession
What magic words must be used to create a joint tenancy?
joint tenancy, with right of survivorship.
what is the right of survivorship?
the surviving tenant takes automatically on the death of a joint tenant.
how can one be relieved of common ownership?
- partition by voluntary agreement
2. file an action for partition.
when does severance of a joint tenancy occur?
when any of the four unities is disturbed. but it cannot be severed by will
does a mortgage sever the unities?
- in a lien theory state there is no severance. lien attaches to title, but title is not transfered.
- in a title theory state there is a severance. title passes from mortgagor to mortgagee.
does a contract of sale sever the unities?
yes because of the doctrine of equitable conversion.
when does a creditor’s sale sever the unities?
there is no severance until the judicial sale actually takes place. if the owner dies before the creditors sale, there would be no severance.
tenancy in common requires the unity of what?
possession; each co-tenant is entitled to possess the whole of the property.
the modern presumption is in favor of a tenancy in common or joint tenancy?
tenancy in common.
does a tenancy in common have a right to survivorship?
no. that is joint tenancy.
do co-tenants have to account to another co-tenant for his share of the profits?
No unless, agreement, ouster, lease of the property, depletion of natural reasoures.
(load) lease ouster agreement depletion.
what is contribution?
contribution concerns the right of one co-tenant to force the other co tenants to pay their fare share of some expenditure made the property
what type of expenditures does contribution apply to?
necessary repairs (not improvements), mortgage if signed by all co-tenants, paying the taxes
in a co-ownership does each co-tenant have right to possess the whole of the property?
yes.
requirement for tenancy of years?
specified beginning and ending date. must be in writing if over a year.
No notice is required to terminate.
is notice required between landlord and tenant to terminate the tenancy for years?
Nope.
elements for a periodic tenancy?
no agreement as to duration. estate rolls on and on until one party gives proper notice.
what is a holdover tenant?
a tenant who was on the property under a valid lease but the lease has expired and the tenant nonethless remains on the property.
in the case of a hold over tenant, the landlord has two options:
- sue to evict - sue in trespass and to recover damages
2. imposes new periodic tenancy (cannot impose if it is not reasonable)
when can a landlord demand payment of higher rent for holdovers?
when they give tenant notice of the increase in rent before the expiration of the lease.
what are the duties of tenant?
- pay rent
- maintain premises (not commit waste, if they covenant to repair, the tenant is liable for everything, even wear and tear unless excluded in the agreement)
What are the landlord’s remedies if tenant fails to pay rent?
- at common law, landlord could sue for the amount only in rears, and could not terminate the lease.
- today, all states allow the landlord to sue for damages and terminate the lease, thereby evicting the tenant from the property.
what happens if tenant unjustifiably abandons?
- landlord may terminate lease, tenant has no further rent obligation.
- relet the premises, holding the tenant liable for any deficiency. must make a reasonable effort to mitigate.
what are the duties of the landlord?
- duty to deliver possession of the leased premises when the lease begins, if not, landlord is n breach of the lease.
- implied warranty of habitability. (reasonably suited for residential use)
- implied covenant not to interfere with tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the leased premises
what happens if landlord breaches implied warranty of habitability?
tenant can move out and end the lease.
tenant can stay on the property and sue for damages.
make reasonable repairs deduct cost from future payments.
what are three ways landlord may breach the implied promise of not to interfere with tenant’s quiet enjoyment.
- total eviction
- partial eviction
- constructive eviction
what is a total eviction?
landlord enters tenant’s apartment and threw tenant off the premises.
the lease is over.
what is a partial eviction?
landlord physically excludes the tenant from only some portion of the leased property.
if this is the case, tenant does not have to pay rent.
what if the partial eviction is by a third party?
tenant pays rent proportionately reduced to reflect the amount of land taken.
what is a constructive eviction?
1) landlords failure to provide some service
2) that substantially interferes with the tenants quiet enjoyment of property
3) tenant must give the landlord notice and reasonable time to repair
4) tenant must abandon within a reasonable time.
what is an assignment?
tenant transfers all remaining interest to new tenant
what is a sublease?
tenant transfers only a part of the lease
when is the landlord liable?
if there is a privity of estate or contract?
privity of estate exists only between?
present landlord and present tennt
privity of contract exists only when?
where there is an agreement between the landlord and the particular tenant.
does the promise to pay rent run with the land?
yes so liable under privity of estate or contract.
covenant will run with the land if it touches and concerns the land, what is the test for the touch and concern requriement?
does performance of the promise make the land more valuable or more useful?
when are covenants enforced on assignees?
if they run with the land. (touch and concern test)
who can the landlord recover rent from?
anyone whom he is in privity with?
is there a privity of estate between landlord and sublessors?
No. so they cant recover rent from them.
what is a non-assignment clause?
clause that says tenant may not assign or sublet without the express permission/consent of the landlord.
strictly construed.
violation makes the attempted transfer voidable at the option of the landlord.
what is the rule regarding waiver?
waiver of non-assignment/non-sublease clause: permission given once means that a nonassignment clause is waived forever, unless landlord states otherwise.
if landlord accepts check, then it is waived forever.
courts are quick to find waiver.
if there is a partial taking by eminent domain does the tenant have to pay rent?
yes full rent, but tenant will get a condemnation award:
amount equal to the rent that was to be paid over the remainder of the lease term for portion of the property condemned.