Property 7: Landlord’s Remedies and Lease Termination Flashcards
What are landlords remedies for breach of covenant to pay rent
*Action for debt
*Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)
*Forfeiture
*Persue guarantors
*Use rent deposit
Where does the LL get thr authority for an action for debt
Lease likely to contain express cov to pay rent OR will be implied in parole lease
Will an action for debt bring the lease to an end?
NOT a damages claim and doesn’t bring lease to an end
Limitation period for briniging claim for action for debt?
6 years
Who can be sued for an action for debt
□ Current tenant
□ Former tenant (via privity of contract/AGA)
What is Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)
Enter prop and seize and sell goods belonging to current tenant and rent paid from proceeds of sale
What are the procedural rules for Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)
- Rent must be due for min 7d
- Give tenant 7d notice
- use enforcement agency to seize goods
- if tenant doesnt pay, give 7d notice and sell at public auction
What cannot be seized in Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)?
◊ Items up to value of £1350 which are necessary for tenants business (eg computers/phones)
◊ Items not belonging to tenant (eg leased/hired)
Can Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR) be used to cover service charge/insurance premiums?
no, only ‘normal’ rent
What is the effect of Forfeiture
Brings lease to end and enable landlord to gain vacant possession of prop
conditions for forfeiture
*Can only be exercised against tenant in possession
*lease must contain forfeiture clause
*right must not be waived
Procedure for forfeiture?
*LL make formal demand for rent due by presenting at premises on date due between sunrise/sunset UNLESS lease dispenses with this
*Can forfeit via:
1. Peaceable re-entry
2. Court order (required where premises partly/wholly a dwelling and occupier resides there)
- Tenant can apply to court for relief from forfeiture
How many days does the rent need to be outstanding before forfeiture?
Lease can vary how many days
When will the landlord have waived their right to forefiture?
Via act demonstrating an intention to continue the relationship of landlord/tenant
Eg demand/accept rent after breach
Effect of tenant being granted relief from forfeiture?
T can retake premises on terms of original lease
How does a tenant apply for relief from forfeiture?
◊ T pays all arrears before trial where LLs suing for possession (court MUST)
◊ apply to court within 6mo of landlord re-entry pursuant to court order (court has discretion)
◊ If LL forfeits non-residential lease without court proceedings, 6mo time limit doesn’t apply
What form must a guarantee be in?
In writing
What will a guarantee oblige guarantor to do?
◊ pay rent/other sums due under lease if tenant doesn’t
◊ OR indemnify landlord against loss caused by breaches of tenant cov
How long will a guarantee last?
*Old lease: extend through duration of the lease, regardless of assignment
*New lease: guarantor automatically released from liability on an assignment (BUT landlord may require guarantor of outgoing tenant to guarantee the outgoing tenant’s obligations under AGA)
When perusing former tenant/their guarantor, what must the landlord comply with?
s17 of Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995:
1. serve default notice on former tenant/their guarantor if landlord intends to recover ‘fixed charge’ (monetary payment such as rent, service charge or other liquidated sum)
2. within 6mo breach
Guarantors: How can you regain control of a property after having a default notice served on you?
*Paying sum claimed under default notice
*Calling for ‘overriding lease’ (headlease between the landlord and the former tenant/guarantor)
What is a rent deposit
cash tenant deposited at start of lease as security for payment of rent and performance of tenants cov contained in lease
How much is a rent deposit usually?
6-12mo rent
What will a rent deposit deed normally require?
*Tenant to top up deposit
*Deposit balance returned to tenant at end of lease/on lawful assignment
What are landlords remedies for breach of repair covenant?
- Specific performance
- Damages
- Self help/Jervis v Harris clause
- Forfeiture
What is needed for specific performance?
Court order
What type of breach is specific perfomance appropriate for?
For breach of positive cov
Limits on specific perfomance as a remedy
Equitable remedy=Will only be granted where other remedies inappropriate
Example of when specific perfomance was granted for breach of repair cov
*there was no forfeiture or landlord’s self- help clause
AND damages weren’t adequate, particularly where the condition of the property was deteriorating;
AND court was sure that the order was not being sought by the landlord simply to harass or otherwise put pressure on the tenant
* in the circumstances, it was appropriate to grant the plaintiff an order for specific performance.
what are damages for breach of repair cov limited to?
amount by which landlords reversion has diminished in value as a result of disrepair
When must notice of a damages claim be served on the tenant and what can the tenant then do?
*For leases granted for 7y with 3y left
*Tenant can serve counter notice within 28d meaning landlord needs leave of court to peruse claim