Property Flashcards
Fee Simple Absolute?
- Denoting the aggregate of all possible rights that a person may have in a parcel of land
- May last in perpetuity [passes to heirs by intestacy]
- Largest possible estate in land
- Presumed unless otherwise state
A conveys to “J and his heirs,” under modern “to J” is sufficient
Fee Simple Determinable?
terminates automatically upon the happening of a named future event;
thus, AUTOMATICALLY reverts
[Grantor retains possibility of reverter]
- Created in one clause w/ limitation built into it
- Denoted by “for as long as, during, while, until,” etc.
- Durational language
- Possibility of Reverter is held wth the Grantor
Fee Simple Subject to a Condition Subsequent?
Grantor reserves the right to–MAY–terminate the estate upon the happening of a stated event
[Look for clear conditional language]
- Condition ONLY gives grantor right to take estate. NOT automatic
- Created in 2 separate clauses w/ the condition stated in 2nd clause
- “But if, in the event that,” … “retake the premises”
- Right of Reentry is held by the grantor
- If language is ambiguous: then treat as an FSSCS
Fee Simple Subject to Executory Interest?
estate that is automatically divested in favor of a 3rd party
on the happening of a stated event
- Can be created by either: durational or conditional language
- J conveys “to A, but if land ceases to house a school, then to B”
Fee Tail?
freehold estate that descended to Grantee’s lineal descendants [children] only
- Denoted by “to J and the heirs of his body”
- Florida real property may not be entailed.
- Instrument creating FT: creates life estate in 1st taker w/ remainder per stirpes to 1st taker’s lineal descendants at time of her death.
- No remaindermen: to any other designated remaindermen.
- No designated remaindermen: to original donor OR her heirs.
Life Estate?
lasts for the duration of the grantee’s life
- Denoted by, O conveys “to J for life”
- Life estate pur autre vie measures life of 3rd party other than grantee
- Life estates can be made defeasible [terminate early]
- A life estate measured by Grantee’s life is not devisable/descendible
Freehold Estates?
gives possession to property under some legal title
- Words of purchase: describe person taking interest under device
- Words of limitation: describe nature of estate taken by purchaser
Non-freehold Estates?
give mere possession but not legal title
- Term Estate (Leasehold Estate)
- anything less than a life estate
- Essentially a landlord/tenant relationship.
Possibility of Reverter?
future interest created automatically in Grantor whenever he hands out a determinable estate
- Fully transferable [transferable, devisable, and descendible]
- Statute of Limitations when limitation occurs
- Not subject to Rule Against Perpetuity
Right of Reentry (Powers of Termination)?
future interest created in Grantor that follows a FSSCS
- Creation: MUST be spelled out [not automatic] in conveyance
- To revert back, Grantor must exercise right
- Descendible, majority devisable & few transferable inter vivos
- Statute of Limitations when grantor attempts to exercise right
- Not subject to Rule Against Perpetuity
- FSSCS/RoR preferref over FSD/RoR b/c no automatic forfeiture.
Reversion?
future interest retained by Grantor when Grantor transfers less than a fee interest to a 3rd party
- Transferable, devisable, & descendible
- Not subject to Rule Against Perpetuities
Executory Interests?
future interest in a 3rd party that cuts short the previous estate before it would have naturally terminated
- Since a fee estate has potential to last forever, any interest created in a 3rd party that follows the granting of a fee will always be an executory interest
- It is transferable, devisable, & descendible
- Subject to Rule Against Perpetuities
2 Types of Executory Interests?
- Shifting E.I.: an interest that cuts short a prior estate created by the same conveyance. Interest passes from grantee to grantee
- Springing E.I.: an interest that follows a gap in possession or divests the estate of the transferor. Interest passes from grantor to grantee
Remainder?
Types?
future interest created in a 3rd person,
which is intended to take after the natural
termination of the preceding estate
- Contingent Remainder
- Vested Remainder
Contingent Remainder?
[any remainder not vested]
- takers are unascertainable or
- interest subject to a condition precedent; thus, does not fall in automatically on the natural termination of previous estate
Vested Remainder?
- at creation takers ascertained or ascertainable AND
- not subject to any condition precedent other than the termination of the previous estate
- It is transferable, devisable, & descendible
- Fully vested remainder not subject to Rule Against Perpetuities, but remainder subject to open is
Special Types of Vested Remainders:
Vested remainder subject to condition subsequent?
is a presently vested remainder that’ll terminate upon the happening of some designated event; vested remainder subject to complete divestment
Types of Waste?
Voluntary
Permissive
Ameliorative
Remainder vested subject to open?
- created in a class of people, &
- has at least 1 member that is ascertainable and who has satisfied any conditions precedent to vesting, but may have other member join class later
Remainder: Class Opening?
- Inter vivos conveyance: at time of conveyance
- Testamentary conveyance: at death of Testator
Remainder: Class Closing?
- Rule Against Perpetuities can void a future interest.
- Rule of Convenience: class closes as soon as any member is entitled to possession of property
Voluntary waste?
voluntary commission of an act
that has more than a trivial injurious effect
on or change in the property.
Permissive waste?
- involuntary;
- permits premises to fall into disrepair;
- may also occur if fails to pay mortgage interest payments, taxes, or Tenant’s share of special assessments
Ameliorative waste?
actually makes improvements to land
Life tenant allowed to commit ameliorative waste if:
- market value of remainderman’s interest is not impaired & it is permitted by the remainderman OR
- substantial & permanent change in neighborhood has deprived the property of a reasonable current value
Holder of a remainder has standing to sue for past or future waste.
- Vested remainderman: can sue for damages/injunction to stop
- Contingent remainderman: only sue for injunction to stop waste
Restraints on Alienation?
condition placed on ownership of real property that restricts the free conveyance of that property
Total restraint:
- On a fee: generally not valid
- On less than a fee: generally upheld so long as it reasonable
Partial restraint:
- Purchase option [right to buy back]
- Right of first refusal
Both are valid if REASONABLE
Rule Against Perpetuities?
“[n]o interest is good,
UNLESS it MUST vest, if at all,
not later than 21 years after some life in being
at the creation of the interest”
Rule Against Perpetuities applies to what interests?
Primarily:
contingent remainders
executory interests
Other interests that RAP applies to include:
• interests subject to open
• powers of appointment
• options to purchase (other than tenant’s option
during lease term)
• rights of 1st refusal
Right of Survivorship?
if a co-tenant dies,
ownership passes entirely to remaining owner(s)
right takes precedent over all else, including wills
Concurrent Estates?
2+ persons share concurrently
an interest in real property.
Each concurrent owner is a co-tenant.
SEVERING JOINT TENANCY?
- Becomes tenancy in common when severed
- Done by an inter vivos act of a co-tenant
- a) have it partitioned
- b) attempt to sell her interest in property
- c) mortgages her interest in property
- Lien will not sever joint tenancy, but transferring title will.
- Majority–including FL–(Lien Theory): mortgage viewed as lien on prop
- Min. (Title Theory): mortgage considered title to prop
- d) If 3+ joint tenants & 1 severs his interest. Joint tenancy remains intact with the remaining tenant for the % severer did not own, and the whole property will be a tenancy in common with the non-severers and the new tenant.
Tenancy in Common?
form of concurrent ownership, where each co-tenant (1) owns an undivided interest in the whole of the property (2) w/o the right of survivorship
- Presumed form of co-tenancy, unless stated otherwise [i.e., adding right of survivorship]
- Only requires unity of possession
- May freely transfer inter vivos:
- voluntarily: conveyance, lease, or any transfer of present possessory or future property interest, intestacy, devise
- involuntarily: foreclosure on co-tenant’s interest, or execution of judgment creditor’s lien on tenant’s interest
Joint Tenancy?
form of concurrent ownership, where each co-tenant (1) owns an undivided interest in whole of the property (2) WITH right of survivorship
- Traditionally, joint tenancy required following 4 unities:
- TIME - each joint tenant interest must vest at same time
- TITLE - each joint tenant must be created in same instrument
- INTEREST - each joint tenant must hold an equal share of the property
- POSSESSION - each joint tenant has same equal right to possession
- Majority: only require [INTEREST & POSSESSION]
- May transfer via voluntary or involuntary transfer of interest
Tenancy in Common vs. Joint Tenancy?
TiC JT
Presumed Survivorship
Only poss required At least Interest & poss req
Different possession OK Equal possession interest
Interest freely transferred Severe via inter vivos act
Tenancy by the Entirety?
form of concurrent ownership
reserved for married couples,
which gives each spouse an undivided interest
in the whole of the property and the right of survivorship
[only b/w a husband & wife]
- Severs into a tenancy in common when: divorce, death of spouse
Rights and Duties of Co-Tenants:
Possession of Property?
Each co-tenant entitled to possess whole property; If denied possession: bring suit for damages or ejectment
Rights and Duties of Co-Tenants:
Profits?
- If produced by 1 of the co-tenant’s efforts: other co-tenants have no right to share in those profits unless they were ousted from use of property
- If generated by what a 3rd party is doing w/ property (rent): all co-tenants entitled to equal share
Rights and Duties of Co-Tenants:
Expenses?
- Taxes/mortgage payments: each co-tenant must pay a proportionate share
- Repairs: no direct duty of repair, but if a co-tenant makes repair, she may be allowed to offset cost from 3rd-party [rent] received or partition action to be compensated
- Improvements: no duty, but co-tenant so choose cannot receive contribution, unless property sold and any additional funds received due to improvement co-tenant will receive
Adverse Possession:
Physical Occupation of Land
MUST be?
actually, openly, notoriously, & exclusively
occupies land in a manner sufficient to put
the true owner on notice
- Scope: Can only claim portion of the land actually occupied,
- EXCEPTION: when AP enters under color of title, then occupies significant portion [fact question] of property described in flawed deed then can claim all property noted in flawed deed
- Future interests/actual interest – can only take what owner has; therefore, if life estate, can only own for a long as owner alive. Ex: true owner gave sub-surface rights to 3rd party, AP only get surface rights
Adverse Possession?
Legally sanctioned taking of title to land
from the rightful owner.
Factors:
- Physical occupation:- actually, openly, notoriously, & exclusively occupies land
- Inent: done w/ sufficiently hostility [claiming land as yours] intent
-
Time - on land continuously for statutory period
- continuous requirement is not literal. Seasonal or infrequent use may suffice if the use is consistent with the type of property being possessed (e.g., a vacation home, land at a summer camp).
- Common law: 20 years
- Florida: 7 years
Adverse Possesion:
Intent?
done w/ sufficiently hostile intent;
claiming land as yours
2 types:
- CLAIM OF RIGHT
- COLOR OF TITLE
- Permission to be on land always destroys hostile intent, but mere knowledge does not imply permission.
- Co-tenancy - only way to adversely possess against another co-tenant is to oust other co-tenant from making use of property
- Mistaken encroachment is sufficient hostile intent.
Adverse Possession:
Time?
on land continuously for statutory period
[CL: 20 years] [FL: 7 years]
- Continuously is question of fact based on nature of property
- TACKING: Combines adverse possession periods to meet requirement (requires transfer from 1 AP to another)
- DISABILITY: Suspend or tolls running of statute of limitation ONLY if there at beginning of AP period & starts once disability ends
- Minor [rightful owner]
- Insane [rightful owner]
- Imprisoned [rightful owner]
Rights of the Adverse Possession & True Owner?
Before AP period has run:
- TO can: eject AP on land & collect damages [e.g., rental value]
- AP considered a trespasser
After AP period run:
- AP relates back to date of entry onto land
- AP is: owner against rest of world
Types of Tenancies?
- Tenancy for Years
- Periodic Tenancy
- Tenancy At-Will
- Tenancy at Sufferance (Holdover Tenant)
Tenancy for Years?
tenancy w/ a fixed starting & ending date
- Creation: by agreement b/w landlord & tenant
- Can be oral UNLESS duration is for longer than 1 year
- Term: Specified by agreement
- Termination: Automatically at end of period
Periodic Tenancy?
it has a fixed starting date but no fixed ending date
- Creation: Expressly by word of parties, but often by implication [hold over tenancy situation]
- Term: indefinite
- Termination: by giving appropriate notice of intent to terminate tenancy
- Appropriate notice MUST:
- written
- equal to rental period up to a max of 6 months
- Timing: notice takes effect at start of next rental period [on exact date rent due]
- Appropriate notice MUST:
Tenancy At-Will?
tenancy at will of the parties
- Creation: expressly at will of parties
- Termination
- when either party decides to terminate the tenancy
- either party dies
- attempt to transfer interest in tenancy
- If agreement gives only LL right to terminate at will, T also has right; If agreement gives only T right to terminate at will, LL does not have right too
Tenancy at Sufferance (Holdover Tenant)?
- Created out of a holdover situation: Holdover situation a tenant has tenancy for years, but at end of lease tenant remains on premises
- Holdover tenant status is determined by LL:
- If LL wants tenant to remain: PERIODIC TENANT (period is that for which rent it reserved)
- If LL doesn’t want tenant to remain: TENANT AT SUFFERANCE, until LL can succeed in getting tenant off property [eviction]
* Acceptance of rent: - LL accepts rent: strong evidence, LL wants tenant to stay
- LL doesn’t accept rent: strong evidence, LL doesn’t want tenant to stay
- Amount of rent: Rent amount under the old lease is the amount due
- Exception: LL can impose a HIGHER rent if LL informed T of increase prior to expiration of the old lease.
Common Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Fight Over Rent:
Determine how much rent landlord can sue for:
Tenancy for Years?
- Entire rental obligation promised in lease
- Contract implications
- Majority: allows for anticipatory repudiation of entire lease & can sue immediately for entire rental obligation. [CL: LL only sue for rent as it accrued]
- LL duty to mitigate [reasonable]: e.g., re-rent the room in hopes to lessen amount owed
Common Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Fight Over Rent:
Determine how much rent landlord can sue for:
Periodic Tenancy?
whatever rental obligation is up until point of notice to terminate lease
[moving out would be considered the giving of notice &
would ONLY be liable for an additional rental period]
Common Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Fight Over Rent:
Determine how much rent landlord can sue for:
Tenancy At-Will?
amount of rent fixed in the agreement that is already owed
Common Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Fight Over Rent:
Determine how much rent landlord can sue for:
Tenancy at Sufferance?
(a) Periodic tenancy: cost of rental value in expired lease
(b) Tenant at sufferance: reasonable rental value of the property
Rent payment defenses:
Failure to deliver possession?
- Majority: LL’s obligation to deliver possession of property to tenant & if he failed to do so, T2 would be excused from having to pay rent until LL got T1 off of premises
- Minority: American Rule: LL has no obligation to deliver possession of premises, it’s the tenant’s duty
Rent payment defenses:
ACTUAL Eviction?
LL has been physically removed from property by LL or 3rd party on his behalf
[this ends rental obligation at this point]
- Partial eviction by LL: LL had evicted you from a portion of property [excuses tenant from paying any rent]
- Partial eviction by agent of LL: rent abatement, only has to pay for portion used or had access to
Rent payment defenses:
CONSTRUCTIVE Eviction?
eviction: [No actual physical removal] LL allowed/created condition on premises that have substantially interfered w/ tenant’s use & enjoyment of the property
- Tenant must actually move out w/in reasonable time following act constituting substantial interference.
- If it is an action of 3rd party: LL has to reason to know that action of 3rd party will substantially interfere w/ tenant’s use & enjoyment
- If total constructive eviction: defense to payment of any rent
- If partial constructive eviction: rent abatement, excused from paying for portion evicted from
Rent payment defenses:
Surrender?
In order to have defense to payment of rent: LL has to accept surrender & retake possession of premises
- Rare to see a defense of surrender, b/c often retaking possession to re-rent & mitigate damages on behalf of former tenant
Rent payment defenses:
Destruction?
No distinction in all or a portion of the building.
Rent excused once destroyed.
[CL, if tenant leased whole building & destroyed still owed rent. Only apt renters would be excused from rent payments when building burned]
- EXCEPTION: Tenant negligently or intentionally caused the destruction.
Rent payment defenses:
Warranty of Habitability?
Requires LL to maintain premises in a habitable condition; applies to residential leases only
(Minority: extends to commercial leases)
- Constructive eviction: (1) uninhabitable [substantially interfered w/ tenant’s use & enjoyment of property] & (2) tenant moves out
- If problem but tenant does not leave, but can’t live there comfortably, can notify LL to correct issue, must give LL reasonable period of time to make corrects, if after reasonable time then tenant may make repairs and offset cost of returning to habitable condition & deduct it from rent owed.
Rent payment defenses:
K law defenses?
- ImpractIbility
- Impossibility
- Frustration of purpose
- Violation of quiet use & enjoyment of property
Condition of Premises:
LL Obligations?
- Common: had no obligation to repair leased premises
- Modernly, there are statutory exceptions.
- Implied Warranty of Habitability: maintain premises in a habitable condition [residential lease only; majority]
- Other statutory obligations.
- There may be additional liability in tort.
Condition of Premises:
Tenant Obligations?
- Common: no obligation to repair
- Duty to avoid waste.
- a) Voluntary waste: tenant has duty not to do anything intentionally/negligently that could cause damages, if so tenant is liable
- b) Permissive waste: tenant has to take reasonable steps to guard against damage to the property, if so tenant is liable
- c) Ameliorative waste:
- 1) Modern law: can do so if expressly authorized or change in community, if so tenant is liable
- 2) Common law: not authorized to make any improvements, if so tenant is liable
Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Fight Over Possession?
If lease is entered into & LL leased property to tenant, then tenant has possessory right to property.
-
LL can only retake property if: tenant committed material breach of lease
- a) Doesn’t allow use of any force, must resort to legal process
- 1) LL must give notice to tenant to either cure breach or vacate. [often 3-10 days]
- 2) Then a hearing to determine whether tenant has committed breach, & if it is found that they have, they will be evicted.
- b) Common: LL entitled to use reasonable force to retake possession from tenant
- a) Doesn’t allow use of any force, must resort to legal process
- Courts will not uphold what they view as a retaliatory eviction.
Disputes Between Landlord and Tenant:
Improvements?
- Can fixture be removed & premises left in substantially same condition as when tenant arrived? If so: T entitled to remove fixture, MUST remove before lease expires
- Common: anything improved becomes part of land & MUST stay [ameliorative waste] Unless, Trade fixtures (item used in course T’s trade/business) can be removed, Unless, removal will cost substantial damage to property
- Structural changes can’t be removed b/c presumption cannot be returned to substantially same condition as when tenant arrived
Landlord & Tenant:
Tenant’s Transfer of Interest:
Assignee?
T transfers remaining rental obligation in terms of time to another
- LL can sue new tenant on privity of estate & old tenant on privity of K
- If more than 1 transfer when assignee assigns property to another, original asignee’s privity of estate has ended. Original assignee liable for rent due while he was assignee. Therefore, LL may sue original tenant K and new asigneee on privity of estate
Landlord & Tenant:
Tenant’s Transfer of Interest:
Sublessee?
tenant transfers portion of rental obligation in terms of time to another
- Can sue original tenant on privity of K, not sublessee …cannot force sublessee to pay rent cause not in privity of K. However, if LL not receiving rent, this is a material breach of lease and the LL can have him evicted.
Transfer of Interest in Leases?
- Generally: fully transferable
- LL may write a prohibition on transfer into a lease.
- prohibitions in transfer of a lease generally will be upheld
- To prohibit both an assignment and a sublease: you must state both are prohibited
- If consent is involved: LL must act reasonably & good faith in granting consent
- Rule in Dumper’s Case: if express prohibition against assignment in lease, & LL expressly./impliedly waives restriction once waived deemed waived for remainder of lease unless stated otherwise
Water Rights?
- Riparian View (Majority) - anybody w/in watershed[touches water] has right to make reasonable use of water
- Prior Appropriation/Use View (Minority) – 1st to use water is 1st in right
Ways to Terminate a Covenant or Equitable Servitude?
- writing release
- merger of dominant & servient estate
- abandonment
- estoppel
- Changed circumstance so that reason behind restriction is no longer valid.
Equitable Servitudes:
INJUNCTIONS require?
- Touch and concern
- Intent
- Notice