Property Special Topics Flashcards
(83 cards)
What is a joint tenancy?
A type of concurrent estate in which each co-tenant has an undivided and equal interest in the property with the right of survivorship.
What are the four unities required for a joint tenancy?
Possession, Interest, Time, Title.
What does the unity of possession entail in a joint tenancy?
Co-tenants share an equal right to possess or use the property.
What does the unity of interest mean in a joint tenancy?
Co-tenants each have an equal interest in the property.
What is meant by the unity of time in a joint tenancy?
Property interests simultaneously vest in all co-tenants.
What does the unity of title refer to in a joint tenancy?
Property interests received in the same instrument of conveyance.
What happens if any of the four unities of a joint tenancy are lost?
The noncomplying interest is severed from the joint tenancy and becomes a tenancy in common.
If a brother conveyed his interest in a joint tenancy to his wife, what happens to the joint tenancy?
The joint tenancy lost the unities of time and title, converting to a tenancy in common.
True or False: The wife’s reconveyance to the brother reestablishes the joint tenancy.
False.
Give Yourself a Five
Give Yourself a Five
Fill in the blank: A joint tenancy relies on the coexistence of four unities, often remembered by the acronym _______.
PITT.
What is the landlord’s duty to repair in residential leases?
Landlords must repair substantial defects not caused by the tenant
This is part of the implied warranty of habitability.
Under what conditions does a landlord have no duty to repair in residential leases?
Unless statute or contract requires repairs
This applies to ordinary repairs.
What remedies does a tenant have if the implied warranty of habitability is violated?
- Refuse to pay rent until repairs are made
- Remedy the defect and offset costs against rent
- Defend against eviction by asserting constructive eviction
The tenant must notify the landlord and allow a reasonable opportunity to correct the issue.
What constitutes a substantial defect in a leased residence?
Defects that affect basic safety and living conditions
Examples include issues like electricity failure.
What must a tenant do before exercising remedies for a defect?
Notify the landlord of the problem and give a reasonable opportunity to correct it
A reasonable opportunity is typically considered to be a timeframe that allows for effective action.
What is the effect of a landlord’s failure to repair a defect?
The tenant is entitled to withhold rent
This can lead to a breach-of-contract action.
In commercial leases, what is the general rule regarding ordinary repairs?
Landlords have no duty to make ordinary repairs unless statute or contract requires
This is a significant distinction from residential leases.
What happens if a tenant’s electricity stops working through no fault of their own?
The tenant may withhold rent if the landlord fails to repair after notification
This reflects the tenant’s rights under the implied warranty of habitability.
True or False: A landlord is always obligated to repair any defect in a leased property.
False
The obligation depends on the type of lease and specific contract terms.
What is the implied warranty of habitability?
A legal doctrine that ensures residential properties meet basic safety and living conditions
Violations allow tenants to seek remedies related to repairs.
What is the implied warranty in all land-sale contracts?
The seller will convey marketable title to the buyer upon closing unless otherwise stated.
How can parties eliminate the warranty of marketable title?
By expressly contracting to transfer whatever title the grantor has to the buyer by a quitclaim deed.