Property Management Flashcards
What does CRAR stand for?
Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery
What is CRAR? What can it be used for?
Available to commercial LL’s with a minimum level of rent due under lease.
No minimum amount of arrears.
Can only be used for basic rent demanded + VAT and interest. Can’t be used for SC etc.
What is an AGA?
Authorised Guarantee Agreement
Are there any timelines for how quickly rent arrears must be recovered and why?
Rent arrears must be recovered from an assignor within 6 months.
Section 17 of the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995
How do court proceedings work in recovering arrears, and what are the pros/cons of this?
- LL obtains a court judgement (usually CCJ)
- Slower and more expensive than other forms of debt recovery
+ Useful if tenant is solvent, threat of court action can prompt payment
How has recovering rent arrears changed with the new leases (post 1 Jan 1996)?
Leases prior to 1 Jan 1996 the former tenant can pay. After 1996 can look for AGA agreement in lease.
Which law enforces CRAR?
The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
CRAR replaced the ancient law of distress in April 2014.
What is the timeline of events for CRAR, and conditions to be met?
- Minimum of 7 days unpaid rent.
- Minimum 7 clear days warning notice.
- Enforcement agents visit.
- 2 clear days to follow.
- Re-entry by enforcement agent to seize goods.
- Allow 7 clear days before sale of goods.
- Fees must be specified on the entry notice.
What is the procedure for forfeiture upon rental arrears?
Must be forfeiture clause in lease.
Rent must have been properly demanded.
Stop-rent safeguards prevent accidentally accepting rent and waiving the forfeiture. Accepting rent is acknowledgement of continuation of the tenancy.
If not for the non-continuation of rent (any other breaches) payment a s.146 notice is to be issued.
What is an effective FRI lease?
Where the LL is responsible for repairs and recharges via the service charge.
What are LL remedies for breach of repairs?
- Serve a repair notice.
- Forfeit the lease.
- Serve an interim schedule of dilapidations.
- Do the works and charge the tenant.
What is a Notice to Repair?
Served under s.146 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
Subject to repair terms in the lease.
Served to remedy one specific repairing/decorating breach.
Must be in writing and comply with lease terms.
What does a Notice to Repair contain?
- Details of the repairing/decorating breach
- The timescale allowed to remedy the breach
- Course of action proposed if the tenant fails to remedy the breach
How does forfeiture work for a breach of repairs?
Must be forfeiture clause in the lease.
LL wishing to forfeit lease for disrepair will have to serve s.146 notice on tenant.
s.146 notice should state why tenant is in breach of repair covenant and what must be done to remedy breach. Reasonable time should be given to undertake works.
How do you serve an interim schedule of dilapidations on a tenant in breach of repairs?
Instruct building surveyor to prepare draft or formal schedule to serve upon tenant.
What is a Jervis v Harris clause?
Landlord’s right to re-enter property to undertake repair works if tenant is in breach. Then recover cost from tenant as a debt.
When is a Jervis v Harris clause used?
- When tenant is solvent
- Where LL wants the lease and rent to continue
- LL wants to retain control to carry out repair works
- Where threat of entry may compel tenant to do the work
What act protects tenants against onerous interim schedules of dilapidations?
The Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938.
If a lease granted for a term of 7 years +, and has at least 3 years to expiry.
LL must serve s.146 notice on tenant instead.
LL must prove one of 4 points:
1. Immediate remedy is necessary to prevent substantial diminution of property reversionary value.
2. Immediate remedy is necessary to comply with current legislation.
3. If occupied by more than 1 tenant, immediate remedy is required in interests of other occupier.
4. Breach is capable of immediate remedy at small cost compared with consequences of postponement.
What is a planned maintenance schedule? What three stages can it include?