Property MBE Flashcards
Fee Simple Absolute
absolute ownership of infinite duration: To A, To A and his heirs
Defeasible Fee
potentially infinite duration, subject to termination by occurrence of event;
FS determinable: For so long as, while, during, until
FS subject to condition subsequent: upon the condition that, but if, if it happens that
FS subject to executory interest: To A, but if X event occurs, then to B
Life Estate
fully transferable during measuring life: to A for life; to B after the life of A; to B for the life of C
Life tenant’s rights and duties
Right to possess
Right to collect rents/profits, lease/sell/mortgage
Duty not to commit waste
Waste
Limits any estate except fee simple
Affirmative: overt conduct causing decrease in property value, can’t consume/exploit natural resources unless prior use; must make reasonable repairs
Permissive: Land falls into disrepair or LT fails to reasonable protect/preserve land; must maintain premises in reasonably good repair and pay all ordinary taxes/profits/FRV
Ameliorative: must no enhance property’s value unless all the FI holder are known and consent
Tenancy in Common
Two or more grantees w/ unity of possession
No right of survivorship
undivided interest w/ unrestricted right to possess whole
interest freely devisable/transferrable
Joint Tenancy
Express language creating JT
2 or more tenants own with ROS
interest is alienable, but not devisable/descendible
Four unities: TTIP: time, title, possession (equal), interests (equal)
Severance:
Sale (don’t need consents, severs JT)
Partition: voluntary agreement, judicial action, forced sale
Mortgage: severs JT, under title theory, not lien theory
Tenancy by the entirety
JT w/ ROS
must be married
protected from creditors of only one spouse
neither can unilaterally defeat ROS by conveyance to 3rd party
Rights and Obligations of Co-tenants
Co-T in exclusive possession not liable for rent/profits unless ouster
Can collect for operating expenses
no contribution of reasonable repairs/improvements (unless accounting/partition)
Liable for 3rd party rent
Future Interests
gives holder a present, legally protected right or possibility of future possession of state
Reversion (FI)
Arises in grantor who transfers estate less than he owns other than FSD or FSSCS (usually LE or estate for years), not subject to RAP
Possibility of Reverter (FI)
Automatically reverts to grantor upon occurrence of stated event when FSD conveyed
Right of Reentry (FI)
Held by grantor after FSSCS granted
Vested (not subject to any conditions precedent and created by ascertainable grantee)
Subject to Open: a least one member in class qualified to take possession, so each class member’s share subject to partial diminution b/c additional takers not yet ascertained can still vest, rule of convenience closes class when any member entitled to immediate possession
Subject to complete: occurrence of condition subsequent completely divests remainder
Contingent
Unascertainable grantee or if subject to express condition precedent to grantee’s taking (b/c of unknown beneficiary or known beneficiary subject to condition precedent not yet occurred
Executory interest
FI in 3rd party, not a remainder and cuts prior estate short upon occurrence of specified condition, transferable and subject to RAP
Shifting - cuts short prior to estate created in same conveyance, so estate shifts from one grantee to another upon happening of the condition
Springing - divests interest of grantor of fills gap in possession so estate reverts to grantor
Transferability (FI)
Remainders/executory interests transferrable inter vivos and devisable/descendible
Rule against Perpetuities
At the creation of interest, FI must vest or fail by the end of a life in being, plus 21 years
Tenancy for Years
Fixed period of time
created by express agreement
term >1 year must be in writing to satisfy SOF
no notice b/c termination fixed
Periodic tenancy
Repetitive, ongoing estate by set periods of time
automatically renews @ end of each period unless valid termination notice
SOF not required
created by express agreement, implication (no mention of duration) or operation of law (hold-over tenant)
Tenancy at Will
No fixed period of time
parties must expressly agree or regular rent payment will imply periodic tenancy
may be terminated by either party at any time, but reasonable demand to vacate usually required
Tenancy at sufferance
T wrongfully holds over past expiration of lease
Wrongdoer is given tenancy to permit L to recover rent
Tenancy lasts until L evicts T or elects to hold T to periodic tenancy
Tenant duties
Duty to pay rent (unless premises destroyed or material breach by landlord)
Avoid waste: ameliorative waste OK if reasonably necessary for T to use property in reasonable manner, but must avoid permissive waste by repair except for normal wear/tear
Repair: Non-residential leases, contractually liable for all damage to property unless caused by L
Remedies: sue for damages, and eviction for failure to pay rent; retake premises if T abandons but duty to mitigate damages by re-renting premises; can accept holdover tenant as periodic tenant/tenant at sufferance OR sue after notice to vacate
Landlord Duties
Must deliver actual possession or no obligation for T to pay rent
Except for T damages, L must repair for residential, but not commercial leases
Landlord Duties
Warranty of Habitability
Warranty of Habitability; premises must be fit for basic human habitation and if breached: T can refuse to pay rent, make reasonable repairs and deduct cost from future rent, or remain in possession, pay rent and seek damages
Landlord Duties
Covenant of quiet enjoyment
Covenant of quiet enjoyment: T has the right to quiet use and enjoyment of the premises w/o interference from L
L has duty to control other tenants’ nuisance in common areas
No retaliatory eviction for reporting housing code violations
Landlord Duties
Eviction
Actual: L wrongfully evicts/excludes T from premises
Partial: T excused from paying rent for L’s partial eviction, but must pay reasonable rental value if partial eviction by 3rd party w/ superior claim, not excused for adverse possessor/trespasser
Constructive: substantial interference caused by L’s actions or failure to act, T must give notice of problem, L fails to respond, and T must vacate premises w/in reasonable time after L fails to fix problem