Property Management Flashcards
What is an assignment?
Tenant transfers its legal interest in a lease to another party. The incoming tenant takes over the tenant’s obligations under the lease
What is a sub-letting?
A contract to lease commercial property from a tenant rather than a landlord
The tenant maintains their relationship with the landlord
Sub-tenant has a direct relationship with the tenant and pays them the rent, who then pays rent to the landlord
What is the difference between an assignment and a sub-letting?
With an assignment the original tenant is no longer liable under the lease, the responsibility it legally transferred
With sub-letting, the original tenant maintains their responsibilities under the lease and creates a new relationship with a sub-tenant. The landlord has no direct relationship with the sub-tenant
Why might a tenant sub-let rather than assigning?
Requirement of the lease
To sub-let part and not whole
There is a profit rent
Tenant wants to re-occupy in the future
New party is of a lesser covenant strength
What is the typical alienation clause in commercial leases?
Permitted to assign or sub-let whole without landlord’s consent not be be unreasonably withheld or delayed
What actions should be undertaken by a property manager when they receive an application to assign or sub-let?
Review provisions in the lease
Give tenant understanding of surveyor and legal costs
Is the proposed rent the market rent and/or the same as the passing rent?
What will be the effect on the investment value of the property?
What do the terms of the lease state regarding the grant of consent for assignment and sub-letting?
Are there reasonable grounds for withholding consent?
Has a rent deposit been agreed? Is there an AGA clause?
The client will need to be provided with a report setting out the surveyor’s recommendations
Obtain the client’s approval to proceed
Is consent if to be granted, a licence for assignment or sub-letting will be required
What was the aim of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988?
To ensure that a statutory duty exists on the landlord to deal with consents diligently and not be unreasonable withheld or delayed
Failure to do so can result in a claim for damages
What is the benefit of a licence for alterations?
Provides protection for a landlord often requiring a tenant to reinstate any works done at the end of their lease
Provide protection for a tenant, by preventing the landlord from rentalising any alterations/improvements at rent review
What is the key RICS publication in regard to alterations?
RICS Guidance Note: Licence for Alterations in Commercial Property, 2nd edition, 2012
What does the RICS Guidance Note: Licence for Alterations in Commercial Property, 2nd edition, 2012 set out?
Advise for surveyor dealing with tenant applications to make alterations to office and industrial properties
Importance of dealing with the matter without unnecessary delay
Ensuring that a licence is completed to protect parties
Licence must clearly document the works agreed
What is the process for completing processing a tenant’s application to make alterations according the RICS’ guidance note?
Tenant’s application
Factors to consider
Third party input
Response
Documenting
Final inspection
What does a surveyor need to do upon receiving a tenant’s application to make alterations?
Request for application to be submitted in writing
Cost undertaking for handling the application should be sought at an early stage of the process
Check lease provisions
What factors need to be considered as part of a tenant’s alteration application?
- The nature of the works – govern the level of consideration required
- If works are likely to improve the rental value of the property the landlord should consider exercising the option inspection 3 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927
- Impact on building operations
- In cases of major works it may be appropriate for landlord to request that a financial bond be held until the works are completed – provides the landlord with protection if a tenant begins but fails to complete agreed works
- Considered whether a warranty should be requested from the tenant for the works to be carried out
- Landlord needs to be clear as to whether or not they will require reinstatement on expiry of the tenant’s lease
- If alterations are required to fulfil obligations under The Equality Act 2010 – in such case landlord cannot withhold consent unless it is reasonable to do so
- Request tenant’s H&S documents for works to ensure safe working practices are being adhered to
- Alterations to lessen environmental impact of a building should be encouraged
Name some third parties whose input may be required as part of a tenant’s application to make alterations?
Planning
Building regulations
Specialist consultants
Insurers
What remedies are available to the tenant is the landlord fails to responds to an application to make alterations, refuses consent, to attaches considered which the tenant considers unreasonable?
Issue court proceedings for a declaration that the landlord is being unreasonable and that the works may proceed
Can carry on with the works in any event – although this an bring risks and problems, including the tenant being in breach of the lease which can give a right to forfeit
What are the different ways in which consent to make alterations can be granted?
Automatically by way of lease terms
Formal licence deed
Simple letter licence
Most appropriate form will depend on the client’s preference and circumstances
Why should an inspection be carried out after the completion of a tenant’s agreed works?
So that the surveyor can be satisfied that the works have been carried out to the required standard in line with plans and specifications provided and agreed
Following which it may be necessary for the tenant to rectify any snagging issues
What is the implication of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927?
If lease prohibits being made to a property without landlord’s consent, s.19 of the act imposes a proviso that such consent cannot be unreasonably withheld
If s.19 procedures have been followed, the landlord may be obliged to pay compensation for alterations that may constitute improvements
What are a property manager’s responsibilities for managing empty buildings?
Building insurance – tell insurers its empty and comply with requirements
Maintain the fabric of the building
Obtain an EPC
Clear the building to remove any combustible material
Undertake and record regular inspections (for insurance purposes_
Undertake a health and safety and fire risk assessment of a building
Inform the local rating authority for payment of empty rates
Arrange security and decommission services and isolate power supplies
Seal up letterbox to help prevent arson and secure the property
Planned maintenance programme including serving of plant
Set frost controls and drain down water
Agreement of a disposal strategy and marketing initiatives
Maintain the asbestos register
Landscaping
What was the implication of the Insurance Act 2016?
Key law which introduced more accountability for insurers, new responsibilities to policyholders to provide all relevant information and aim to reduce claims
What is the tax levied on insurance premiums?
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)
What are the two fundamental principles of rent collection?
Accuracy of information
Timing
What is the difference between a standing order and a direct debit?
Standing order is a regular payment set up by the payer. The payer has control of payments
Direct debit is when the payer authorises the payee to take payments
What are the warning signs of future tenant default on rent or rent arrears?
Persistent late payments
Bounced cheques
What are the typical lease terms regarding interest on late rent?
2-4% above the base, 7-14 days after due date
What is the first step that should be made when seeking to recover rent arrears?
Read the lease to establish what procedures are in place for the landlord to recover the arrears
What are the remedies for rent default?
Negotiate a payment plan or another mutually acceptable arrangement
Use a rent deposit
Pursue guarantor
CRAR
Serve a statutory demand
Forfeit the lease
Court proceedings
What should be considered before drawing down on a rent deposit to cover arrears?
Will the tenant be able to top up the deposit?
If the tenant is in financial difficulty keeping the deposit for future debts should be considered – for example, for dilapidations
Does the landlord need to give the tenant notice before drawing down on a rent deposit?
Depends on the working of the rent deposit deed
In the event of arrears, is the landlord obliged to use the rent deposit?
No, the landlord can use he deposit at their discretion
What is the benefit of drawing down on the rent deposit over other remedies?
If the tenant’s inability to pay is considered to be a short term issue and the landlord wants to keep the tenant in possession
Drawing down on the rent deposit will provide some relief for the tenant to focus on recovering business
Can top up the deposit when business has recovered
How can court proceedings be used to recover tenant arrears?
Landlord can obtain a court judgement and then secure payment of the arrears by way of a charge over other property
Proceedings can also be issued to recover arrears after possession
What is the benefit of using court proceedings to recover tenant arrears?
Can be a useful remedy when the tenant is still solvent as just the threat of court action may prompt payment
What is the disadvantage of using court proceedings to recover tenant arrears?
Can be a slow process
More costly than other forms
Even when court judgement is achieved, landlords often have to take steps to enforce a judgement
When can a former tenant be pursued for tenant arrears?
Leases that started before 1st January 1996
Privity of contract was abolished by the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995
Before this a tenant who is the original tenant under a commercial lease was responsible for the rent and other covenants throughout the lease term even if it has transferred to someone else
What is a statutory demand?
Preliminary step to pursuing bankruptcy of winding-up proceedings
Can be used to put pressure on a tenant to pay arrears
When can a stat demand be used?
Can only be used on genuine and undisputed rent
Arrears must be over £750 for a company and £5,000 for an individual
Rent deposit should already have been used
What is the process of serving a stat demand to recover arrears?
Served on individual or at registered office of company
Tenant has 21 days to pay their arrears
After this time, landlord can present bankruptcy (individual) or winding up (company) petition to the court
What is CRAR?
Commercial rent arrears recovery scheme
What was CRAR introduced to replace?
Ancient law of distress for rent
When was CRAR introduced?
2014 by The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
Who is the CRAR scheme available to?
Commercial landlords
What is the minimum amount of arrears for CRAR to be used?
There is no minimum
What can CRAR be used to recover?
Basic rent demands, plus VAT and interest payable
No service charge or other payments
What is the required timeline under CRAR?
Minimum 7 days unpaid rent
Minimum 7 clear days warning notice
Enforcement agents visit
2 day clear days to follow
Re-entry by enforcement agent to seize goods
Allow 7 clear days before sale of goods
Fees must be specific on the entry notice
What goods can’t be seized under CRAR?
Perishable goods
Work tools
What are the tenant’s rights under CRAR?
Tenant has the right to apply to the court for an order that no further steps may be taken under CRAR without further permission from the court
What is forfeiture?
A clause in the lease that allows the landlord to re-enter the property and gain possession for a breach of the lease (by peaceful re-entry or begin court action) – when the landlord enters the property the lease immediately ends
Procedures must be followed and relief offered to the tenant
When can forfeiture be used?
When there is a forfeiture clause in the lease
What are the tenant’s rights under forfeiture?
Tenant has the right of relief from forfeiture from the court within 6 months
What is relief from forfeiture?
An application by the tenant to court to overturn the forfeiture
The result is that the lease will be restored as if the forfeiture never happened