Real Property Flashcards
The Life Estate
An estate that must be measured in explicit lifetime terms and NEVER in years
The Life Estate Pur Autre Vie
A life estate measured by the life other than the grantees.
Voluntary or Affirmative Waste
Overt conduct that decreases the value.
4 Exceptions for life tenant to consume or exploit natural resources (PURGE)
Prior Use
Repairs
Grant
Exploitation
Open Mines Doctrine
If mining was done on the land before the life estate began: the life tenant may continue to mine, but is limited to the mines already open.
Permissive Waste and the Obligation to Repair
The life tenant must simply maintain the premises in reasonably good repair, pay all ordinary taxes on the land to the extent of income or profits from the land, if no income or profits must pay all ordinary taxes to the extent of the premises fair market value.
Ameliorative Waste
Change that benefits the property economically
Future Interests (6 categories)
- Possibility of Reverter
- The right of Entry
- The Reversion
- A vested Remainder
- A contingent Remainder
- An executory interest
Lien Theory of Mortgages (joint tenancy)
A joint tenant’s execution of a mortgage on his or her interest will not sever the joint tenancy
Common Law Rule of Conveyance
A class closes whenever any member can demand possession.
The Rule Against Perpetuities (RAP)
Certain kinds of interests are void if there is any possibility, however remote, that the given interest may vest more than 21 years after the death of a measuring life.
Charity to Charity Exception
A gift from one charity to another does not violate the RAP
Forms of Concurrent Ownership
- Joint Tenancy
- Tenancy by the Entirety
- Tenancy in Common
Joint Tenancy
Two or more own with the right of survivorship
Tenancy by the Entirety
A marital interest between married partners with the right of survivorship.
Tenancy in Common
Two or more own with no right of survivorship
Severance of Joint Tenancy
Sale, Partition and Mortgage
Three Variations of Severance and Partition
- Voluntary Agreement
- Partition in Kind
- Forced Sale
Partition in Kind
A court action for physical division of blackacre is sold and proceeds are divided proportionally.
Forced Sale
A court action if in the best interests of all where Blackacre is sold and proceeds are divided proportionally
Tenancy for Years
A lease for a fixed period of time
Periodic Tenancy
A lease that continues for successive intervals until L or T give proper notice to terminate.
Tenancy at Will
A lease for no fixed duration.
Tenancy at Sufferance
Created when T has held over past the expiration of the lease.
Tenants Duties
- T’s liability to third parties
- T’s Duty to Repair
- T’s Duty to Pay rent
T’s Liability to Third Parties
T is responsible for keeping the premises in good repair. T is liable for injuries sustained by third parties T invited even where L promised to make all repairs.
T’s Duty to Repair
T must maintain the premises and make ordinary repairs.
Fixture
A once moveable chattel that, by virtue of its annexation to realty objectively shows the intent to permanently improve blackacre.
L’s Remedies if T breaches but is out of possession (SIR)
Surrender, Ignore (minority states) , Relet
Landlord’s Duties
- Duty to Deliver Possession
- The Implied Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
- The Implies Warranty of Habitability
Duty to Deliver Possession
The majority rule requires that L put T in physical possession of the premises.
Implied Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
T has a right to a quite use and enjoyment of the premises without interference from L.
Element for Constructive Eviction (SING)
- Substantial Interference
- Notice
- Goodbye - T must vacate within a reasonable time after L fails to correct the problem.
Implied Warranty of Habitability
The Premises must be fit for basic human dwelling.
Remedies for Breach of Implied Warranty of Habitability
- Move out & end lease
- Repair & Deduct
- Reduce Rent
- Sue for Damages
Assignment
T transfers his or her interest in whole
Sublease
T transfers his or her interest in part
Landlord’s Tort Liability
Landlord is liable for torts:
- common areas
- Latent Defects
- Assumption of Repairs
- Public Use