Although just about every lease has one, the condemnation clause is often overlooked. That’s understandable. After all, when landlords and tenants sit down to negotiate a lease, the possibility that the property will be condemned during the lease term is probably the furthest thing from...
If you’re going to get into a dispute with a tenant, chances are it’ll happen during the move-in or move-out process. While stress is an inherent part of moving, you can go a long way toward preventing disputes and minimizing disputes by getting the tenant to agree to clear moving...
Offering tenant improvement allowances (TIAs) is a great way to attract and retain small and new businesses that can’t afford the renovations they need to open shop. But it can also backfire if the tenant defaults before moving in or generating the revenues necessary to pay you back. TIAs...
It’s among the least appreciated parts of the lease. But while rent, renewal, and other business terms command most of the attention, the so-called force majeure clause takes center stage when disasters occur. It’s at that point that both landlords and tenants recognize the...
Although the restaurant business is notorious for fads, the food hall has demonstrated that it’s more than just the flavor of the month. Like its cousin the mall food court, the food hall is a mix of retail eateries sharing space within a larger facility. The difference is that food halls...
Each year, literally thousands of private individuals file ADA lawsuits against landlords for money damages claiming their properties aren’t accessible to the disabled. In many of these cases, the alleged violation occurs not in the common areas but inside the tenant’s premises.
As a means of securing a tenant’s obligations under the lease, a letter of credit (LC) offers distinct advantages over a cash security deposit. The landlord’s underlying assumption is that if the tenant defaults, drawing on the LC will be as easy and automatic as making a withdrawal...
Consider this situation: With three years remaining on its lease, a commercial tenant decides to pull up stakes, vacate the premises, and stop paying rent. The landlord makes no effort to re-let the space and allows it to remain vacant through the end of the lease term. It then sues the tenant...
“Constructive eviction” happens when a landlord commits a lease violation so egregious that it effectively forces the tenant out. Result: The tenant is free of all obligations and, in many cases, entitled to damages. And while constructive eviction cases used to be somewhat...
While retail and office building owners field defaults of many kinds from tenants that fail to follow their lease terms, nonpayment of rent is the most common breach of a tenant’s lease. It signals bigger problems for you than just your bottom line being affected in the months that you don...
Despite the abundance of online retailers offering great prices and free delivery to customers at the click of a button, shopping centers have slowly but surely made a comeback since the economic downturn nearly 10 years ago. But it’s not enough for center owners to coast on customers...
