Tenant Duties and Landlord Remedies Flashcards
Tenants Duties
Must not commit waste,Must not use premises for Illegal Purposes, Duty to Pay Rent
Destruction of Premises without fault
leased property destroyed without fault no waste is involved. In absence of language or statute neither party has duty to restore the remises, but tenant has a duty to continue paying rent.
Most states give tenant the option to terminate the lease in this sutation
Tenant’s Liability for Covenant to Repair
Residential: if tenant covenant to repair, landlord usually remains obligation to repair (except for damages caused by tenant) under Warranty of habitability
NonResidential: covenant to repair is enforceable, landlord may be awarded damages for breach,
Duty To not use Premises for Illegal Purpose
Use illegal use occurs, landlord may terminate lease, or obtain damages or injunctive relief. occasional unlawful conduct does not breach this duty.
Duty to Pay Rent
Rent Deposits: landlord not permitted to retain security deposits beyond damages actually suffered, if deposit denoted as a bonus landlord can keep after eviction.
Duty ends, with termination or surrender
Landlord Remedies, Tenant Still in Possession
Evict or Sue for Rent
Landlord Remedies, Tenant No Longer In Possession
Tenant unjustifiable abandons, landlord has duty to mitigate. If landlord repossesses and relets, tenant’s liability depends on whether landlord has accepted the surrender.
If surrender is not found tenant liable for difference between his rent and re-let rent.