Real Property Flashcards
Fee Simple Absolute
property is owned by a single party with no co-owners
Tenancy in Common
Each co-owner has a distinct, proportionate, undivided interest in the property
The owners each have a share of ownership, expressed as a percentage.
Each owner can sell, devise, or encumber their share (and only their share)
No ROS
Joint Tenancy
Each “joint tenant” has a right of survivorship. “Last man standing” becomes sole owner of the property.
The joint tenants cannot devise their share in a will or trust, because of this survivorship. Their share disappears upon death and is absorbed by the surviving owners, until only one remains.
In FL, granting instrument must expressly refer to survivorship, or estate will default to tenancy in common.
Four Unities that Must Be Present to Create a Joint Tenancy
Each tenant’s interest must be exactly identical (i.e. four unities of time, title, interest, and possession must be present)
-possession - equal right to enjoy and possess the property
-interest: equal shares in the property
Time: must receive interest at same time
Title: must receive interest under same title
Tenancy by the Entirety
Married couples
ROS
In FL, property owned by both a husband and a wife is presumed to be held as tenants by the entirely, unless there is express language creating some other form of ownership.
Benefit: property is protected from creditors of each individual spouse. Only joint creditors (creditors of both spouses) can attack the property. Applies to any asset held as tenancy by entirety.
• Note: any asset can be owned as tenancy by entirety (art, furniture, bank accounts). Assets purchased during marriage are presumed to be owned as tenants by entirety, if they are owned by both spouses. Applies only to assets actually owned by both spouses. (different from marital asset).
Rights and Duties of Co-Owners
Each co-owner has:
- the right to possess all portions of the property but cannot have exclusive possession.
- operating expenses, rents and proceeds must be shared according to pro-rata interest.
- If one co-owner encumbers the property, he has only encumbered his interest in the property
Partition/Forced Sale:
Court may order partition of the property to satisfy creditor (i.e. physically divide into separate parcels) or force sale of the property and split the proceeds between the remaining owners and the creditor.
Exception to Need for Four Unities to Create a Joint Tenancy
An owner can create a joint tenancy in herself and another, even though unities of time and title are not satisfied (that is, no strawman is required)
Severance of Joint Tenancy
If any of the four unities (P.I.T.T.) are destroyed, the JT is terminated and the parties hold the property as TIC.
- most common when one JT transfers interest in property.
- Taking out a mortgage DOES NOT destroy JT, but only applies to JT’s half.
Is Florida a lien theory or title theory state?
Lien theory - mortgage is treated as a lien.
Is there a right of reimbursement from co-tenants for repair costs?
No - these costs are not required to be shared. However, you can get credit for repairs in partition action.
What is ouster?
If a co-tenant denies another cotenant access to the property
What are remedies of an ousted tenant?
- get an injunction granting access to the property
- recover damages for value while ousted.
Nature of Leasehold
T has present possessory interest & LL has future interest (e.g. reversion)
o Tenancy for Years
If period of over 1 year, it MUST be in writing (SoF).
Terminates automatically at the end of the specified term.
LL reserves the right of reentry
o Periodic Tenancy
Continues on successive periods (i.e. month-to-month, year-to-year) until it is terminated by proper notice. Until then, it is automatically renewed.
Created by express agreement, implication (continued payment of rent after expiration of lease), or operation of law
FL: nonresidential periodic tenancy is considered tenancy at will
Required notice of termination for a periodic tenancy?
Year-to-year = 60 days;
quarterly = 30 days notice
month-to-month=15 days;
week-to-week=7 days
Tenancy at will
- by statute, applies when term of tenancy is unlimited, even if in a written lease.
- continues until it is terminated by either party
- In Fla. notice is required.
- Ends at death of either party, or LL or T transfers his interest.
Required notice of termination of a Tenancy at will
For nonresidential -annual rent payments - 3 months notice -quarterly rent payments - 45 days notice monthly rent payments - 15 days weekly rent payments - 7 days
Does Florida recognize NON-Residential periodic tenancies?
No. A nonresidential tenancy with periodic rent payments and no fixed termination date is a tenancy at will.
If lessor holds over at end of term, and LL consents in writing, what type of tenancy is created?
Tenancy at will.
Tenancy at Sufferance
T wrongfully remains in possession after the expiration of a lawful tenancy,. Lasts only until LL evicts or elects to hold T to another term. Notice of termination is NOT required.
Special notice provisions that LL can include in residential lease regarding termination and vacating the premises
- LL can require 60 days notice of T’s plan to vacate
- LL must provide notice of 1. T’s obligation to provide notice and 2. the date the rental is termination. LL’s notice must come 15 days before T’s notice period begins. If T does not give at least 15 days notice prior to vacating, he can be held liable for another month’s rent.
Hold-over doctrine
If a T continues in possession after lease term ends, the LL may either evict the T in county court (no forcible entry) or bind the T to a new periodic tenancy.
Commercial = year-to-year if original lease term was over 1 year or month-to-month if for less than 1 year
Residential = month-to-month
** IF LL sends notice before the lease terminates that new lease will be at a higher rent, then T will be held to the new term at a higher rent.