REAL PROPERTY Flashcards
Life tenants are obligated to make which payments on a mortgage on the land?
Only the interest
If A, B, and C own property as joint tenants, and P obtains a money judgment against A, what interests do the parties own on B’s death?
A owns a 1/2 interest subject to P’s lien, and C owns a 1/2 interest
A co-tenant has the right to possess:
The entire estate
In the case of a will, the perpetuities period begins to run on the date:
The testator dies
A fee simple subject to an executory interest is an estate that:
Automatically divests in favor of a third party on the happening of a stated event
The Rule against Perpetuities applies to:
(i) Contingent remainders;
(ii) Executory interests;
(iii) Class gifts (even if vested remainders);
(iv) Options and rights of first refusal; and
(v) Powers of appointment.
A ____________________is an estate that, upon the happening of a stated event, is automatically divested in favor of a third person rather than the grantor.
fee simple subject to an executory interest
A __________________ is an estate that automatically terminates on the happening of a stated event and goes back to the grantor.
fee simple determinable (determinable fee)
“O to A for so long as the premises are used as an animal shelter.” A has a ___________.
A has a fee simple determinable
“O to A, but if the premises cease to be used as an animal shelter, O may enter and terminate the estate” A has a _______________.
A has a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
“O to A for life until the premises cease to be used as an animal shelter.” A has a:
life estate determinable
“O to A and her heirs.” A has a:
fee simple absolute
A __________ restraint provides that the grantee covenants not to transfer the property.
promissory
A _________ restraint provides that any attempted transfer of the property is ineffective. A conveyance from “O to A, and neither A nor her heirs shall have the right to transfer the land or any interest therein” contains a ______ restraint.
disabling
*Disabling restraints on any legal interest are void.
A _________ restraint provides that if the grantee attempts to transfer the property, it is surrendered to another person. A conveyance from “O to A, but if A attempts to transfer the land or any interest therein during her lifetime, to B” contains a __________ restraint.
forfeiture
Reasonable forfeiture restraints on legal interests generally are valid.
Under modern law, a conveyance from “O to A” creates which interest in A?
fee simple absolute
If O conveys property “to A for life, then to B; but if B predeceases A, to C,” what interest does B have?
vested remainder subject to total divestment
A _____________________arises when the remainderman is in existence and ascertained and his interest is not subject to any condition precedent, but his right to possession and enjoyment is subject to being defeated by the happening of a condition subsequent.
vested remainder subject to total divestment
An ________________ is a remainder that (i) can be created in and held only by an ascertained person in being, (ii) must be certain to become possessory on the termination of the prior estate, (iii) must not be subject to being defeated or divested, and (iv) must not be subject to being diminished in size.
indefeasibly vested remainder
A _________________ is a remainder created in a class of persons that is certain to take on the termination of the preceding estate, but is subject to diminution by reason of other persons becoming entitled to share in the remainder.
vested remainder subject to open
A ______________ is a remainder that is (i) subject to a condition precedent, or (ii) created in favor of unborn or unascertained persons
contingent remainder
A tenancy by the entirety can be terminated by:
- the death of either spouse
- divorce
- mutual agreement of the spouses, or
- execution by a joint creditor of both spouses
These 3 things will sever a joint tenancy:
- a suit for partition by one joint tenant
- an inter vivos conveyance by one joint tenant
- In a title theory state, the execution of a mortgage by one joint tenant
In general, a life tenant commits voluntary waste when he:
Consumes or exploits natural resources on the property
Exceptions to the rule that generally a life tenant commits voluntary waste when he consumes/exploits natural resources on the property include: (4)
A life tenant is allowed to consume such resources when:
(i) in reasonable amounts when necessary for repair and maintenance of the land;
(ii) when the life tenant is expressly given the right to exploit such resources in the grant (e.g., a mineral lease);
(iii) when prior to the grant, the land was used in exploitation of such natural resources, so that the grantor most likely intended the life tenant to have the right to exploit; and
(iv) in many states, when the land is suitable only for such exploitation (e.g., a mine).
If O conveys property “to A for her support until she remarries,” what interest does A have?
fee simple determinable
If O conveys property “to A for life, then to B; but if B predeceases A, to C,” what interest does C have?
Shifting executory interest
A __________ restraint provides that any attempted transfer of the property is ineffective.
disabling
A grantor who conveys a fee simple determinable retains __________.
a possibility of reverter
If O conveys property “to charity A, but if the premises are no longer used as a museum, to charity B,” charity A has __________ and charity B has __________.
a fee simple subject to an executory interest; an executory interest
What interest arises when the remainderman is in existence and ascertained, but her right to possession and enjoyment is subject to being defeated by the happening of a condition subsequent?
Vested remainder subject to total divestment
If T devises property “to A for life, then to B’s children,” and B has at least one child living at all relevant times, when does the class of “B’s children” close?
At A’s death
Which future interest divests the interest of another transferee?
a shifting executory interest
At common law, a conveyance of property from O “to O and A as joint tenants with right of survivorship” creates a __________.
tenancy in common
A conveyance from O “to A for life, and A covenants not to transfer her interest to anyone” contains a __________ restraint.
promissory
Contingent remainders, executory interests, and vested remainders subject to open, are all subject to the ________________.
Rule against perpetuties
A grantor who conveys a lesser estate than the grantor owns retains __________.
a reversion
A ______________is the future interest retained by a grantor who conveys a fee simple determinable.
possibility of reverter
A __________ is the future interest retained by a grantor who conveys a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent.
right of entry
At common law, a contingent remainder must vest prior to or upon termination of the preceding estate or it is extinguished under to the __________.
Rule of Destructibility of Contingent Remainders
If A, B, and C own property as joint tenants, and A conveys his interest to D, what interests do the parties own on B’s death?
C owns a 2/3 interest, and D owns a 1/3 interest
A ________ futuer interest follows a gap in possession or divests the estate of the transferor?
springing executory interest
In most states, when tenants by the entirety divorce, they hold the property as __________.
tenants in common
A fee simple determinable is an estate that:
Automatically terminates on the happening of a stated event and reverts to the grantor
A vested remainder subject to total divestment arises when the remainderman is in existence and ascertained, but her right to possession and enjoyment is subject to:
Being defeated by the happening of a condition subsequent
In the case of a deed, the perpetuities period begins to run on the date the deed is:
Delivered with intent to pass title
A grantor who conveys a fee simple absolute retains:
no interest
In general, a life tenant commits permissive waste when he:
Fails to make required repairs to the land or pay required carrying charges
If O conveys property “to A for life, then to B; but if B predeceases A, to C,” what interest does B have?
Vested remainder subject to total divestment
At common law, if O conveyed property “to A for life, then to B’s heirs” and A predeceased B, B’s heirs would have:
no interest
If A and B own property as joint tenants, and B dies leaving a will devising her interest in the property to C, who owns the property?
A only
Must a co-tenant in possession share profits gained by her personal use of the property with co-tenants out of possession?
No, unless there has been an ouster or agreement to the contrary
A grantor who conveys a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent retains __________.
A right of entry
A grantor who conveys a fee simple determinable retains __________.
A possibility of reverter
A grantor who conveys a lesser estate than the grantor owns retains __________.
A reversion
Absent an express agreement, if a tenant has affixed chattels to leased premises, when must she remove them to ensure they do not become the landlord’s property?
If the duration of the tenancy is definite, the tenant must remove annexed chattels before the tenancy terminates
Under the growing trend of modern case law, a landlord will be held liable for personal injuries of residential tenants and their guests resulting from the landlord’s __________ negligence.
ordinary
When a landowner owns a chattel that she affixes to the realty, what determines whether the chattel is a fixture?
The objective intention of the annexor
When a landowner owns a chattel that she affixes to the realty, whether the chattel is a fixture depends on the objective intention of the annexor.The annexor’s intention, which governs in common ownership cases, is determined by considering:
- The nature of the chattel (i.e., how essential it is to the normal use of the realty);
- The manner in which the chattel is attached to the realty (the more substantially attached, the more likely it was intended to be permanent);
- The amount of damage that would be caused by the chattel’s removal; and
- The adaptation of the chattel to the use of the realty (e.g., custom window treatments, wall-to-wall carpet).
A ___________is a leasehold estate that is terminable at the will of either the landlord or the tenant.
tenancy at will
A ____________is a leasehold estate that continues from period to period until terminated by proper notice by either the landlord or the tenant.
A periodic tenancy
A _____________ is a leasehold estate that continues for a fixed period of time and automatically expires without either the landlord or the tenant giving notice to the other.
tenancy for years
A _____________is a property relationship between landlord and tenant in which the tenant has a present possessory interest in the leased premises, and the landlord has a future interest (reversion).
leasehold estate
If the government condemns only part of leased land, the tenant’s liability for rent:
Is not extinguished, but the tenant may be entitled to compensation for the taking
In most states, the landlord must deliver __________ possession to the tenant at the beginning of the leasehold term.
actual
One week after a month-to-month tenant reports her landlord for housing code violations, the landlord gives the tenant 30 days’ notice that he is terminating her lease.
May the landlord evict the tenant after 30 days?
No, unless the landlord can show a valid, nonretaliatory motive
If L leases property to T, and L subsequently assigns L’s interest to L2, whom may T hold liable when X, a paramount title holder, ejects T?
L or L2
A tenant leases premises that are destroyed without the fault of either the landlord or the tenant.
Under the majority view, which is true in the absence of a contrary lease provision?
The lease may be terminated at the tenant’s option, and the tenant may cease paying rent
Under the growing trend of modern case law, may a landlord be held liable for defects arising after the tenant takes possession?
No, unless the landlord knew or should have known of them
If a month-to-month tenant reports a landlord for housing code violations, may the landlord increase the tenant’s rent the following month?
No, if the landlord has a retaliatory motive
In residential leases, a tenant who holds over after termination of a year-to-year periodic tenancy may be held to a new periodic tenancy from __________.
Month to month
Absent a specific covenant in the lease, a tenant who fails to repair ordinary wear and tear commits __________.
No waste
Under the growing trend of modern case law, may a landlord be held liable for injuries inflicted on a tenant by a third-party criminal?
Yes, if the landlord failed to maintain ordinary security measures
In most states, the reservation of an annual rent, payable monthly, in a lease with no set termination date creates a __________.
Year-to-year periodic tenancy
A leasehold is:
A nonfreehold estate in land
May personal property that is not affixed to land be classified as a fixture?
Yes, if the item is uniquely adapted to the realty
The Rule in Dumpor’s Case provides that:
If a landlord consents to one transfer that would otherwise violate a covenant against assignment or sublease, he waives his right to assert that future transfers breach the lease
__________ waste results when a tenant intentionally or negligently damages the leased premises.
Voluntary
A tenant for years may remove a chattel the tenant affixed to the leased premises if __________.
the tenant removes the chattel before the termination of the lease, and doing so causes no damage to the premises
A tenant who goes into possession of the premises under an invalid lease and pays monthly rent is a:
Periodic tenant
Is a tenant obligated to repair ordinary wear and tear?
Yes, if the lease contains a covenant to repair that fails to exclude ordinary wear and tear.
At common law, if a tenant defaulted on her rent obligation, the landlord could:
Sue the tenant for rent
*At modern law, can sue or evict.
If a landlord substantially interferes with a tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the premises, the tenant may:
Vacate the premises, terminate the lease, and sue for damages
Under the growing trend of modern case law, a landlord will be held liable for personal injuries of residential tenants and their guests resulting from the landlord’s __________ negligence.
ordinary
May a trespasser remove her annexed chattel from the landowner’s property?
No, regardless of whether the chattel was installed in good faith
If L leases property to T, and L subsequently assigns L’s interest to L2, is L2 liable to T on all covenants that are contained in the original lease?
Yes, if the covenants run with the land
In the majority of states, if a hold-over tenant is occupying the premises when a new tenant’s term begins, who must evict the hold-over tenant?
the landlord
Under the growing trend of modern case law, may a landlord be held liable for defects arising after the tenant takes possession?
No, unless the landlord knew or should have known of them
If L leases a residence to T for five years, ending on December 31, at $400 per month, and T remains in possession of the premises on January 1 of the sixth year, L may hold T to a __________.
month-to-month tenancy at $400 per month
In a majority of states, what type of possession must the landlord deliver to the tenant at the beginning of the leasehold term?
Actual
List all of the remedies a landlord has under modern law when a tenant defaults on her rent obligation.
Sue the tenant for rent, evict the tenant, or deduct the unpaid rent from the tenant’s security deposit
L leases property to T. L subsequently assigns L’s interest to L2. T thereafter continues paying rent to L.
May L2 evict T for failure to pay rent?
Yes, if T received reasonable evidence of the assignment