Feature

Limit Noise Rights to Protect Right of Quiet Enjoyment for Center Tenants

May 31, 2010    

In every commercial real estate lease a tenant has the right to quiet enjoyment of the space it rents. While all of your shopping center tenants are entitled to enjoy the use of their space, some may own businesses that generate noise, play loud music, or attract customer lines or crowds that...

Consider Long-Term Consequences Before Renegotiating Mortgage

April 27, 2010    

If you're struggling, you may be considering renegotiating your mortgage. Although mortgage renegotiation may temporarily help your cash flow problem, be aware that it may not be a permanent fix.

The risk involved—and the amount of leverage you have—in renegotiating will...

How to Enforce Lease of Tenant on Verge of Eviction

April 11, 2010    

Evicting a struggling tenant is never easy. Handling an eviction poorly may create a contentious situation for you and your property manager, or even result in a lawsuit for wrongful eviction. In this economy, it is critical to take action as soon as a tenant sends a partial rent payment or...

Put Limits in Professional Affiliate Sublease Clauses

February 26, 2010    

Office tenants that want the option of subletting unused individual offices in, or portions of, the office suite they rent often negotiate professional affiliate sublease clauses. Such a clause gives an office tenant the right to sublet to other professional tenants of the same or a similar type...

Shift Liability for Hazardous Materials, Compliance to Tenant

February 1, 2010    

You must be aware of the presence of hazardous materials on your commercial property so that you can not only minimize the risks they pose, but also use lease provisions that shift liability for them to your tenant. Before drafting provisions that specify these things, find out exactly what...

Take Thorough—and Legal—Steps When Screening Tenants

December 28, 2009    

Finding a desirable tenant often is a challenge, especially in an economic downturn. To make sure you don't replace one struggling tenant with another, you may be tempted to tighten your tenant screening criteria, or screen more aggressively than you have in the past.

Protect Yourself During FDIC Receivership of Bank Tenant

November 23, 2009    

As an owner in the current recession, you probably thought that a tenant's bankruptcy due to the economic downturn would be the most difficult issue you would have to deal with. However, failing banks, unlike your other tenants, are not subject to the bankruptcy process under the Bankruptcy...

Avoid Liability for Tenant's Losses Beyond Your Control

October 31, 2009    

Struggling retail tenants may be able to blame their business's failure on things like poor sales, inconvenient locations, or unexpectedly high overhead. But occasionally, the owner is blamed for the failure, such as in a recent Maryland case.

Commercial Lease Law 2009: Cases and Commentary on Negotiating Owner, Tenant Responsibilities

October 18, 2009    

Commercial owners have much to learn from the case law issued by the U.S.'s federal and state courts this year. The biggest challenge for owners seems to be understanding their responsibilities and rights under their leases and, equally important, negotiating unambiguous provisions that...

Upgrading During the Downturn to Attract, Retain Tenants

August 30, 2009    

As the recession wears on and continues to affect commercial real estate, industry professionals' instinct is to rein in spending, cut back to only essentials, and try to maximize profits. So it is surprising that real estate experts are recommending that commercial property owners invest in...

Spell Out Security Measures When Leasing to "On-Demand" Tenant

July 26, 2009    

“On-demand” office companies provide both space and services for small companies and individuals seeking an office and the benefits of being in a traditional business environment, without the cost. Because a growing segment of the market is downsizing and streamlining the services...

Making "1031 NNN Tenants in Common Exchange" Work in Today's Economy

June 24, 2009    

Many commercial property owners are continually looking for the next big opportunity to expand their real estate investments, while minimizing costs and management responsibilities. A trend in real estate ownership over the past decade—1031 triple net (NNN) tenants in common exchanges...