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Assignment of Rents – What, Why, and How?

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• November 29, 2023

These days, almost all commercial loans include an Assignment of Rents as part of the Deed of Trust or Mortgage. But what is an Assignment of Rents, why is this such an important tool, and how are they enforced?

An Assignment of Rents (“AOR”) is used to grant the lender on a transaction a security interest in existing and future leases, rents, issues, or profits generated by the secured property, including cash proceeds, in the event a borrower defaults on their loan. The lender can use the AOR to step in and directly collect rental payments made by the tenant. For an AOR to be effective, the lender’s interest must be perfected, which has a few fairly simple requirements. The AOR must be in writing, executed by the borrower, and recorded with the county where the property is located. Including an AOR in the recorded Deed of Trust or Mortgage is the easiest and most common way to ensure the AOR meets these requirements should it ever need to be utilized.

When a borrower defaults, lenders can take advantage of AORs as an alternative to foreclosure to recoup their investment. With a shorter timeline and significantly lower costs, it is certainly an attractive option for lenders looking to get defaulted borrowers back on track with payments, without the potential of having to take back a property and attempting to either manage it or sell it in hopes of getting your money back out of the property. AORs can be a quick and easy way for the lender to get profits generated by the property with the goal of bringing the borrower out of default. But lenders should carefully monitor how much is owed versus how much has been collected. If the AOR generates enough funds so that the borrower is no longer in default, the lender must stop collecting rents generated by the property.

Enforcement of an AOR can also incentivize borrowers to work with the lender to formulate a plan, as many borrowers rely on rental income to cover expenses related to the property or their businesses. Borrowers are generally more willing to come to the table and negotiate a mutual, amicable resolution with the lender in order to protect their own investment. A word of warning to lenders though: since rental income is frequently used to pay expenses on the property, such as the property manager, maintenance, taxes, and other expenses, the lender needs to ensure they do not unintentionally hurt the value of the property by letting these important expenses fall behind. This may hurt the lender’s investment as well, as the property value could suffer, liens could be placed on the property, or the property may fall into disrepair if not properly maintained. It is also important for lenders to be aware of the statutes surrounding the payment of these expenses when an AOR is being used, as some state’s statutes require the lender to pay certain property expenses out of the collected rents if requested by the borrower.

In addition to being shorter and cheaper than foreclosure, AORs can be much easier to enforce. In California, the enforcement of an AOR is governed by California Civil Code §2938. This statute specifies enforcement methods lenders can use and restrictions on use of these funds by the lender, among other things. Under CA Civil Code §2938(c), there are 4 ways to enforce an AOR:

• The appointment of a receiver;
• Obtaining possession of the rents, issues, profits;
• Delivery to tenant of a written demand for turnover of rents, issues, and profits in the correct form; or
• Delivery to assignor of a written demand for the rents, issues, or profits.

One or more of these methods can be used to enforce an AOR. First, a receiver can be appointed by the court, and granted specific powers related to the AOR such as managing the property and collecting rents. They can have additional powers though; it just depends on what the court orders. This is not the simplest or easiest option as it requires court involvement, but this is used to enforce an AOR, especially when borrowers or tenants are uncooperative. Next is obtaining possession of the rents, issues, profits, which is exactly as it seems; lenders can simply obtain actual possession of these and apply the funds to the loan under their AOR.

The third and fourth options each require delivery of a written demand to certain parties, directing them to pay rent to the lender instead of to the landlord. Once the demand is made, the tenant pays their rent directly to the lender, who then applies the funds to the defaulted loan. These are both great pre-litigation options, with advantages over the first two enforcement methods since actual possession can be difficult to obtain and courts move slowly with high costs to litigate. The written demands require a specific form to follow called the “Demand To Pay Rent to Party Other Than Landlord”, as found at CA Civil Code §2938(k). There are other notice requirements to be followed here, so it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney if you are considering either of these options. California Civil Code §2938 specifically provides that none of the four enforcement methods violate California’s One Action Rule nor the Anti-Deficiency Rule, so lenders can confidently enforce their AORs using the above methods with peace of mind that they are not violating other California laws.

Whether you are looking to originate a new loan, or you are facing a default by your borrower, understanding what an Assignment of Rents is and how it operates can be extremely beneficial. Enforcing an AOR can be an easier option than foreclosure and can help promote a good relationship with your borrower when handled correctly. If you have any questions about AORs, or need further details on how to enforce them, Geraci is here to help.

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Assignment of Lease: How It Works and Parties Involved

Jump to section, what is an assignment of lease.

The assignment of lease is a title document that transfers all rights possessed by a lessee or tenant to a property to another party. The assignee takes the assignor’s place in the landlord-tenant relationship.

You can view an example of a lease assignment here .

How Lease Assignment Works

In cases where a tenant wants to or needs to get out of their lease before it expires, lease assignment provides a legal option to assign or transfer rights of the lease to someone else. For instance, if in a commercial lease a business leases a place for 12 months but the business moves or shuts down after 10 months, the person can transfer the lease to someone else through an assignment of the lease. In this case, they will not have to pay rent for the last two months as the new assigned tenant will be responsible for that.

However, before the original tenant can be released of any responsibilities associated with the lease, other requirements need to be satisfied. The landlord needs to consent to the lease transfer through a “License to Assign” document. It is crucial to complete this document before moving on to the assignment of lease as the landlord may refuse to approve the assignment.

Difference Between Assignment of Lease and Subletting

A transfer of the remaining interest in a lease, also known as assignment, is possible when implied rights to assign exist. Some leases do not allow assignment or sharing of possessions or property under a lease. An assignment ensures the complete transfer of the rights to the property from one tenant to another.

The assignor is no longer responsible for rent or utilities and other costs that they might have had under the lease. Here, the assignee becomes the tenant and takes over all responsibilities such as rent. However, unless the assignee is released of all liabilities by the landlord, they remain responsible if the new tenant defaults.

A sublease is a new lease agreement between the tenant (or the sublessor) and a third-party (or the sublessee) for a portion of the lease. The original lease agreement between the landlord and the sublessor (or original tenant) still remains in place. The original tenant still remains responsible for all duties set under the lease.

Here are some key differences between subletting and assigning a lease:

• Under a sublease, the original lease agreement still remains in place.
• The original tenant retains all responsibilities under a sublease agreement.
• A sublease can be for less than all of the property, such as for a room, general area, portion of the leased premises, etc.
• Subleasing can be for a portion of the lease term. For instance, a tenant can sublease the property for a month and then retain it after the third-party completes their month-long sublet.
• Since the sublease agreement is between the tenant and the third-party, rent is often negotiable, based on the term of the sublease and other circumstances.
• The third-party in a sublease agreement does not have a direct relationship with the landlord.
• The subtenant will need to seek consent of both the tenant and the landlord to make any repairs or changes to the property during their sublease.

Here is more on an assignment of lease here .

Christina M.

Benjamin W.

Parties involved in lease assignment.

There are three parties involved in a lease assignment – the landlord or owner of the property, the assignor and the assignee. The original lease agreement is between the landlord and the tenant, or the assignor. The lease agreement outlines the duties and responsibilities of both parties when it comes to renting the property. Now, when the tenant decides to assign the lease to a third-party, the third-party is known as the assignee. The assignee takes on the responsibilities laid under the original lease agreement between the assignor and the landlord. The landlord must consent to the assignment of the lease prior to the assignment.

For example, Jake is renting a commercial property for his business from Paul for two years beginning January 2013 up until January 2015. In January 2014, Jake suffers a financial crisis and has to close down his business to move to a different city. Jake doesn’t want to continue paying rent on the property as he will not be using it for a year left of the lease. Jake’s friend, John would soon be turning his digital business into a brick-and-mortar store. John has been looking for a space to kick start his venture. Jake can assign his space for the rest of the lease term to John through an assignment of lease. Jake will need to seek the approval of his landlord and then begin the assignment process. Here, Jake will be the assignor who transfers all his lease related duties and responsibilities to John, who will be the assignee.

You can read more on lease agreements here .

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Assignment of Lease From Seller to Buyer

In case of a residential property, a landlord can assign his leases to the new buyer of the building. The landlord will assign the right to collect rent to the buyer. This will allow the buyer to collect any and all rent from existing tenants in that property. This assignment can also include the assignment of security deposits, if the parties agree to it. This type of assignment provides protection to the buyer so they can collect rent on the property.

The assignment of a lease from the seller to a buyer also requires that all tenants are made aware of the sale of the property. The buyer-seller should give proper notice to the tenants along with a notice of assignment of lease signed by both the buyer and the seller. Tenants should also be informed about the contact information of the new landlord and the payment methods to be used to pay rent to the new landlord.

You can read more on buyer-seller lease assignments here .

Get Help with an Assignment of Lease

Do you have any questions about a lease assignment and want to speak to an expert? Post a project today on ContractsCounsel and receive bids from real estate lawyers who specialize in lease assignment.

ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.

Meet some of our Assignment of Lease Lawyers

Curt Brown has experience advising clients on a variety of franchising, business litigation, transactional, and securities law matters. Mr. Brown's accolades include: - Super Lawyers Rising Star - California Lawyer of the Year by The Daily Journal - Pro Bono Attorney of the Year the USC Public Interest Law Fund Curt started his legal career in the Los Angeles office of the prestigious firm of Irell & Manella LLP, where his practice focused on a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including securities litigation, antitrust, trademark, bankruptcy, and class action defense. Mr. Brown also has experience advising mergers and acquisitions and international companies concerning cyber liability and class action defense. He is admitted in California, Florida, D.C., Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan.

Shelia A. Huggins is a 20-year North Carolina licensed attorney, focusing primarily on business, contracts, arts and entertainment, social media, and internet law. She previously served on the Board of Visitors for the North Carolina Central University School of Business and the Board of Advisors for the Alamance Community College Small Business Center. Ms. Huggins has taught Business and Entertainment Law at North Carolina Central University’s law school and lectured on topics such as business formation, partnerships, independent contractor agreements, social media law, and employment law at workshops across the state. You can learn more about me here: www.sheliahugginslaw.com www.instagram.com/mslegalista www.youtube.com/mslegalista www.facebook.com/sheliahuugginslaw

I am a New York Licensed attorney with over 20 years of professional experience in various areas of contract law, also known as "private law." I have worked with, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating and analyzing various commercial contracts, employment contracts, and data privacy provisions. I am transitioning to a part-time, free lance attorney because this fall, I will be pursuing my LLM at a highly ranked, prestigious international university in Europe, where I will pursue International Comparative Private and Public International Law. While studying, I want to continue to use my professional skillset, including adding what I learn and seize this opportunity as a great way to have an equal value exchange to strengthen our business and professional objectives.

Morgan is a real estate attorney with six years of experience in residential, land, and commercial real estate transactions. He has experience assisting municipalities, businesses, buyers and sellers in real estate related matters. He has worked on various projects including purchase agreements, contract for deed, easements, mortgages, access agreements, contract/lease review and also title review. Prior to entering private practice, Morgan was a Realtor and assisted buyers and sellers in residential sales and closing services. Morgan provides proactive, responsive and dependable work to each client and project.

Bukhari Nuriddin is the Owner of The Nuriddin Law Company, P.C., in Atlanta, Georgia and an “Of Counsel” attorney with The Baig Firm specializing in Transactional Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates. He is an attorney at law and general counsel with extensive experience providing creative, elegant and practical solutions to the legal and policy challenges faced by entrepreneurs, family offices, and municipalities. During his legal careers he has worked with entrepreneurs from a wide array of industries to help them establish and grow their businesses and effectuate their transactional goals. He has helped establish family offices with millions of dollars in assets under management structure their estate plans and philanthropic endeavors. He recently completed a large disparity study for the City of Birmingham, Alabama that was designed to determine whether minority and women-owned businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in city contracting opportunities. He is a trusted advisor with significant knowledge and technical experience for structuring and finalizing a wide variety of complex commercial transactions, estate planning matters and public policy initiatives. Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Bukhari graduated from Classical High School and attended Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law. Bukhari has two children with his wife, Tiffany, and they live in the Vinings area of Smyrna.

John has extensive leadership experience in various industries, including hospitality and event-based businesses, then co-founded a successful event bar company in 2016. As co-founder, John routinely negotiated agreements with venues, suppliers, and other external partners, swiftly reaching agreement while protecting the brand and strategic objectives of the company. He leverages his business experience to provide clients with strategic legal counsel and negotiates attractive terms.

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Assignment of Lease

Contract to lease land from a church?

I’m planning on leasing land from a church. Putting a gym on the property. And leasing it back to the school.

Ok; first step is that you will need a leasing contract with the church. Ask them to prepare one for you so you would just need an attorney to review the agreement and that should cost less than if you had to be the party to pay a lawyer to draft it from scratch. You need to ensure that the purpose of the lease is clearly stated - that you plan to put a gym on the land so that there are no issues if the church leadership changes. Step 2 - you will need a lease agreement with the school that your leasing it do (hopefully one that is similar to the original one your received from the church). Again, please ensure that all the terms that you discuss and agree to are in the document; including length of time, price and how to resolve disputes if you have one. I hope this is helpful. If you would like me to assist you further, you can contact me on Contracts Counsel and we can discuss a fee for my services. Regards, Donya Ramsay (Gordon)

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Real Estate Blog

5 elements to include in collateral assignment of lease/landlord’s waiver.

06/20/2012 | by Gary D. Buchman

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Landlords of commercial properties are often asked to sign a collateral assignment of lease and a waiver of the landlord’s lien on a tenant’s trade fixtures and equipment in favor of the tenant’s equipment lender or franchisor.  The usual form presented permits the lender/franchisor to enter the leased premises in the event of a tenant default under its equipment loan or franchise agreement, in order to repossess equipment and trade fixtures.  This may occur notwithstanding that such a default of tenant’s loan arrangements is not a default under the lease.  When coupled with a collateral assignment of lease, the lender/franchisor will have a right to occupy the premises and to subsequently assign tenant’s leasehold to a new tenant/franchisee.

From a landlord’s perspective, there are several key elements to incorporate into these documents:

• The obligation of the lender/franchisor to remove the equipment and trade fixtures at, or promptly after, expiration of the lease;
• The obligation of the lender/franchisor to pay rent and other charges during its possession of the premises;
• The obligation of the lender/franchisor to restore any damage to the premises resulting from removal of equipment and trade fixtures;
• The right of the landlord to approve any future tenant that lender/franchisor may wish to take the place of the existing tenant; and
• The continuing obligation of the existing tenant, notwithstanding the collateral assignment of the lease and any subsequent repossession or assignment of the lease by the lender/franchisor.

Gary D. Buchman – Partner

Gary D. Buchman is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Department.

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Assignment of Leases and Rents in a Commercial Real Estate Loan Transaction

This practice note discusses the assignment of leases and rents (ALR) in a commercial real estate loan transaction, the basic purpose of which is to grant the lender an assignment of all of the borrower's right, title, and interest in all present and future leases and the rents, and to grant the borrower a revocable license to collect rents and enjoy other rights of a lessor under the leases during the period prior to a default. The note covers various topics related to an assignment of leases and rents, including the borrower's revocable license to collect rent, representations and warranties of the borrower, satisfaction of the borrower's obligations, and ways to document the assignment of leases and rents. See Assignment of Leases and Rents (Acquisition Loan) for a sample template.

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Demystifying Assignment of Lease: Your Go-To Guide

LegalGPS : July 25, 2024 at 12:20 PM

When you’re talking about property leasing, it’s important to understand that there are a lot of terms and concepts that you may have never heard before. One of them is the assignment of lease, which refers to a situation where a tenant transfers their rights and responsibilities under the lease agreement to another party.

Assignment of Lease Template

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What is an Assignment of Lease, and why is it so crucial?

An Assignment of Lease is a term you may have heard thrown around, especially if you're involved in rental properties. It’s a pretty important document. But what exactly is it? Well, in simple terms, an Assignment of Lease is an agreement where the original tenant of a property transfers their leases and all of its rights and obligations to a new tenant. Now, you might be wondering, "When would this scenario ever occur?"

Let's imagine you're a tenant who signed a three-year lease for an office space. However, two years in, you need to relocate due to unprecedented growth of your business. Instead of breaking the lease, you might choose to assign your lease to another business looking for office space. This means that you, as the original tenant, no longer have any obligations under the lease. The new tenant is now responsible for paying rent and complying with all of the terms of the previously signed agreement.

Now that you understand, let's get into the step-to-step guide on how to create an Assignment of Lease!

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Steps to Write an Assignment of Lease

Creating a thorough Assignment of Lease agreement doesn't need to be an overwhelming task. Simply follow these steps to ensure your agreement is both comprehensive and legally binding:

Step 1: Identify the Parties

The information of each party should be included. For the existing tenant (the assignor), make sure to include:

Full legal name or business name

Postal mailing address

Phone number and email address

Do the same for the new tenant (the assignee). Make sure all the information is up-to-date and accurate to avoid any unnecessary confusion or disputes. For example, if the assignor is a business, make sure they have updated their mailing address with the post office to reflect their new building location. If a party has multiple addresses, be sure to list them all.

Step 2: Specify the Lease

This section requires exact information from the original lease agreement, including:

Property address and description

Lease start and end date

A reference to the original lease agreement (for instance, a sentence like "the lease agreement dated...")

Remember to include a copy of the original lease as an attachment to ensure the assignee understands the terms they're adhering to. If not already included in the original lease agreement, be sure to add the following information: Description of rental property, Lease term (how long the lease is good for), Rent amount, and Security deposit amount.

Step 3: Detail the Assignment

State that the assignor is transferring all their interests and obligations in the lease to the assignee. Here, write something like:

"The Assignor hereby assigns, transfers, and conveys to the Assignee all of the Assignor's rights, title, and interest in and to the Lease, together with all the Assignor's obligations, liabilities, and duties under the Lease."

This means that the assignor is transferring all of their interests and obligations in the lease to the assignee. This includes any future rent payments, repairs and maintenance responsibilities, notices of default by either party, and so on.

Step 4: Landlord's Consent

Many leases require the landlord's consent to assign the lease. The assignor should request written consent from the landlord and include a clause like:

"The assignment of the lease is not valid unless and until the landlord provides written consent."

This is followed by a place for the landlord to affirm consent by signing or initialing. This is important because the landlord can elect to withhold consent and the assignment will not be valid. If this is the case, you may need to provide additional consideration for your landlord's assent (for example, an increase in rent).

Step 5: Assignee Acceptance

Include a statement in which the new tenant agrees to the assignment and the terms of the lease. It may look like:

"The Assignee hereby accepts this assignment, assumes all duties and responsibilities under the Lease, and agrees to perform all of the Assignor's obligations under the Lease."

You need to do this because the new tenant needs to have an affirmative acceptance of the assignment in order for it to be valid. This is typically done through a letter from the assignee stating that they agree to perform all of your obligations under the lease.

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Step 6: Signature and Date

Every binding legal document needs a date and a signature. Make sure that there is a proper place for the assignor and the assignee to sign and print their names, with a line for the date.

By following these clear, actionable steps, you'll be able to construct an effective Assignment of Lease agreement. Remember, every situation is unique, so adjust the template as necessary, being sure to include all relevant details.

Clear so far? Great! Now, let's focus on the tips to draft a perfect Assignment of Lease.

Tips to Draft a Perfect Assignment of Lease

Accurate Dates: Be sure to include the date when this agreement will take effect. Precision avoids any confusion about durations, when the assignee takes over, or when the assignor's obligations end.

Clear Terms: This document should restate the terms of the original lease. The assignee needs a clear understanding of what they're stepping into. Bit ambiguous? Think of it like this: the assignee should be able to step into the assignor's shoes comfortably.

Specify Rent Terms: Stating the rent amount, due dates, and method of payment in the assignment helps create a record of the agreed-upon rent terms, ensuring no misunderstanding arises in the future.

Specify the Term: The assignment should state how long the new lease lasts. For example, if the original lease is for one year, then the assignee will assume only a one-year term.

Specify Other Conditions: If there are other conditions in place—such as tenant improvements or utility allowances—then specify these too.

An assignment of lease doesn't have to be a formidable task to overcome. With a cautious and considered approach, these documents can be a smooth and seamless part of managing a successful lease transition.

Our contract templates can offer you even more support, empowering you towards crafting an excellent and individualized Assignment of Lease ready for your task. So why not take your next step towards leasing success and check them out today? Click here to get started!

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Ronna L. DeLoe is a freelance writer and a published author who has written hundreds of legal articles. She does...

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Assignment of lease by the tenant

Assignment of lease vs. sublease, assignment of lease by the landlord.

As a tenant, you may want to get out of your residential lease without paying the remaining rent. Likewise, if you're a landlord and sell your rental property, the buyer must now collect rent from the tenants, who may have no idea you sold the property. In both situations, assignment of a lease with a release for the tenant and assignment of leases with notice by the landlord accomplish these goals.

If you're the tenant and want to leave before the end of your lease term, you may be able to assign your lease to a third party if the landlord doesn't let you out of the lease. The third party then becomes the new tenant, who is bound by the terms of the original lease and pays rent to the landlord.

Most often, the lease won't permit assignment without the landlord's approval, but leases often state that the landlord cannot unreasonably withhold consent. As long as you produce a tenant who's shown a history of payment under prior leases and has been a model tenant, a landlord should consent to assignment.

The assignment of lease form should include places for the tenant-assignor, the new tenant-assignee, and the landlord to sign. If the master lease allows assignment, then the tenant doesn't need the landlord's permission; the tenant can sign an assignment of lease agreement without the landlord's signature.

If the landlord allows an assignment of the lease, you, as the tenant, also want him to sign a release stating that you're not responsible for the new tenant's failure to pay or for any damage she causes. Without such a release, you may still be liable for both.

When you, as the tenant, assign the lease, you sign an agreement that either reads “Assignment of Lease," “Lease Assumption Agreement," or “Assignment and Assumption Agreement." An assumption of the lease means that the new tenant assumes your obligations, such as paying rent and keeping the apartment in good condition.

An assignment of a lease transfers the tenant's entire rights in the property to a third party. With a sublease, on the other hand, the tenant transfers only a portion of the remaining lease. For example, if the original tenant has six months remaining on his lease and he gives the entire six months to a third party, the tenant is permanently assigning his rights to live on the property to the third party. If, however, the tenant allows that third party to stay at the premises for only three months, and the tenant intends to return after three months, he is subleasing the premises.

A landlord can assign the right to collect rent to someone who has purchased the property. An assignment of lease from the seller to the buyer allows the new landlord to collect rent from any and all current tenants in the building. The language in the landlord's assignment of lease agreement can include assignment of security deposits, if the parties agree to it. An assignment of leases by the landlord to the buyer affords protection to the buyer so he can collect rent.

An assignment of leases by the landlord to the buyer is meaningless if tenants aren't aware the landlord sold the property, which is why it's important for the assignor-landlord to give tenants proper notice. A notice of assignment of lease, which is a form signed by both the assignor-landlord and the assignee, or new landlord, is one way to give notice. Another way is to send a letter on the landlord's letterhead. Either way, the notice must include the new landlord's address and how rent is to be paid.

Both landlords and tenants who become assignors should sign a formal assignment of lease agreement, which an online service provider can prepare for you. If you're the tenant who has assigned your lease, try to get a release or you'll still be liable to the landlord. If you're the landlord, make sure you can count on the new tenant to pay the rent before you release the primary tenant from his obligations under the lease.

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Assignment and Consent Standards in Commercial Leases

Mar 6, 2020

Assignment provisions in commercial leases are heavily negotiated and very important to both landlords and tenants. This article presents a brief overview of the assignment provision in commercial leases, both office and retail.

Assignment provisions in commercial leases are heavily negotiated and very important to both landlords and tenants. When a tenant’s interest in a lease is assigned, the tenant is transferring its entire leasehold interest and 100% of the leased premises to a third party for the entire remaining term of the lease. For the tenant, the assignment provision represents a potential exit strategy, dependent of course on the local market, and increased flexibility for future needs. For the landlord, the assignment offers greater security for its revenue stream and hopefully the avoidance of a tenant bankruptcy or default while keeping its building occupied. The tenant’s desire for flexibility and the landlord’s need for control is where the negotiations are focused. This article presents a brief overview of the assignment provision in commercial leases, both office and retail, with particular attention on the laws of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The landlord’s standard for providing consent to a request to an assignment will be reviewed, and we will conclude by offering suggested language.

What If The Lease Does Not Contain An Assignment Provision?

The law traditionally favors the free alienation of property. Therefore, under the laws of almost every state, if the lease is silent on whether the landlord’s consent to an assignment is required, then the commercial tenant has the right to assign its interest. This is true in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Given this baseline, almost every lease form will have a detailed provision setting forth the assignment process. Note also, however, that in most states it is also enforceable for a commercial lease to have an outright prohibition against assignments. Such a provision would likely be a non-starting deal point for most sophisticated tenants.

What Does Reasonable Mean?

If a lease simply provides that the tenant requires landlord’s consent to an assignment, but does not include the standard for giving or withholding that consent, then in many states the implied standard is that the landlord’s consent may not be unreasonably withheld. Historically this was the minority view, with the historical rule allowing the landlord to withhold consent for any reason. The implied duty of reasonableness is now more the norm as more states adopt this position when presented with the issue. There is express case law establishing this rule in Maryland, and most courts in Virginia and Washington, DC will imply such a covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Most states, though, do allow a landlord the sole right to grant or withhold its consent if the lease clearly expressly provides, and in Maryland the lease must specifically state that the landlord’s consent may be granted or withheld in the sole and absolute subjective discretion of the landlord. Again though, a sophisticated tenant with any leverage should never agree to such a provision.

Most negotiated leases will instead contain a provision requiring that landlord’s consent to an assignment is required, but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld. The tenant will likely also try to include landlord’s obligation to not unreasonably delay or condition its consent. A short clause without further defining what constitutes “reasonableness” generally favors the tenant, and landlords typically prefer including specific standards as to the criteria it can consider when reasonably deciding whether or not to consent to an assignment. Without such specificity, defining “reasonable” is difficult as the landlord and tenant clearly will have differing viewpoints and it may be left as a factual question to be decided in litigation. The typical definition (set forth in the Restatement (Second) of Property) would be that of a reasonably prudent person in the landlord’s position exercising reasonable commercial responsibility.

Absent a detailed provision listing the criteria a landlord can consider when reasonably reviewing a request to assign, a landlord is typically found to be considered reasonable if it considers certain general broad factors. First, the landlord reviews the assignee’s proposed use. In a retail setting, the landlord will be concerned whether the proposed use fits with the existing center and/or violates any existing exclusives or insurance requirements. In an office setting, the landlord might review the expected traffic and wear and tear on the building. Second, the landlord will consider the creditworthiness of the assignee. The landlord (and the assignor) will want to be confident that the assignee is capable of performing tenant’s obligations under the lease and a large creditworthy tenant increases the value of the asset. The assignor might argue that a strict financial test (such as a minimum net worth, for example) is unfair since the assignor is likely not being released upon the assignment and the landlord can still pursue the assignor in the event of a default. Third, the landlord will review the experience and history of the assignor. As mentioned above, landlords instead prefer a detailed list setting forth the many factors that they can include as part of reasonably reviewing a request for a lease assignment.

Without further establishing the criteria, the landlord puts itself at risk of a challenge by the tenant that a denial of a consent is unreasonable.

In defining “reasonable,” courts typically do not allow a landlord to deny or condition consent to an assignment based purely on economic reasons where the landlord results in substantially increasing what it was entitled to under the lease. In Washington, DC, there is well established case law holding that it is unreasonable for a landlord to withhold consent solely to extract an economic concession or improve its economic position. For example, a court would not consider it reasonable for a landlord to condition its consent on the assignee paying a greatly increased rent. Instead, as discussed below, landlords should look to protect their interests in a market of increasing rents by providing for either the sharing of excess rentals or a right to recapture.

What Are Typical Provisions In an Assignment Clause?

As discussed above, tenants generally prefer a short assignment provision simply requiring the landlord to not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent to an assignment. But most leases are drafted by landlords, and over the years the assignment provisions have evolved to contain many typical provisions in addition to further defining “reasonableness,” including the following below.

• Sharing of Excess Rents. Since many states do not permit a landlord to condition its consent on improving its economic position (e. g. , by increasing the rent), most leases instead contain a provision where the landlord is entitled to all or a portion of the profits. The profits may mean increased rent, or it may even be construed more broadly to consider the value of the location in a sale of the tenant’s business. The landlord’s argument is that it doesn’t want the tenants competing in the real estate market. The tenant should push back here, and certainly try to lower the percentage shared, carve out any consideration received in the sale of tenant’s business, and only share profits after all of the tenant’s reasonable costs incurred in connection with the assignment were first deducted.
• Corporate Transfers. Since a purchase of the entity constituting tenant is likely not deemed an assignment under the law, most leases make clear that any such corporate sale, including the sale of either a controlling interest in the stock or substantially all of the assets of the tenant, is deemed an assignment for purposes of the lease. The tenant should carve out permitted transfers for typical mergers and acquisitions under certain conditions, and also carve out routine transfers of stock (or other ownership interests) between existing partners or for estate planning purposes. The landlord will likely accept a permitted transfer concept provided they receive adequate notice and the successor entity succeeds to all of the assets of the original tenant with an acceptable net worth.
• Assignment Review Fee. Most landlords include in their form lease the requirement that the tenant reimburse them for legal and administrative expenses incurred in reviewing the request for consent and preparing the assignment. The tenant clearly wants to keep these fees reasonable and in keeping with the local market.
• Recapture Rights. Landlords like to include the express right to recapture the premises in the event the tenant comes to it to request a consent for an assignment. A recapture clause allows the landlord to terminate the lease if market rents have increased or if it needs the space for another use. Sophisticated tenants should push back here as much as leverage allows, try to limit the time periods, and if nothing else try for the right to nullify the recapture by rescinding its request for the consent.
• Tenant’s Remedy. To protect themselves from claims for damages from the tenant if the landlord withholds its consent to a requested assignment, landlords often include a provision where the tenant waives its rights to monetary damages in such a situation and can only seek injunctive relief. The tenant should try to delete this provision, or at least, if leverage permits, provide for the right to seek damages if the landlord is subsequently found to have acted in bad faith.

Assignment provisions are heavily negotiated and both the commercial landlord and tenant need to be advised to the applicable local law and know the market for a comparable transaction. ( Note: The author represents office and retail landlords and tenants throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.) Sample reasonableness provisions for both office and retail uses are copied below for reference.

Retail Lease

Landlord and Tenant agree, by way of example and without limitation, that it shall be reasonable for Landlord to withhold its consent if any of the following situations exist or may exist: (i) In Landlord’s reasonable business judgment, the proposed assignee lacks sufficient business experience to operate a business of the type permitted under this Lease and to a quality required under this Lease; (ii) The present net worth of the proposed assignee is lower than that of Tenant’s as of either the date of the proposed assignment or the date of this Lease; (iii) The proposed assignment would require alterations to the Premises affecting the Building’s systems or structure; (iv) The proposed assignment would require modification to the terms of this Lease, or would breach any covenant of Landlord in any other lease, insurance policy, financing agreement or other agreement relating to the Shopping Center, including, without limitation, covenants respecting radius, location, use and/or exclusivity; (v) The proposed assignment would conflict with the primary use of any existing tenant in the Shopping Center or any recorded instrument to which the Shopping Center is bound; and/or (vi) The proposed assignment or subletting would result in a reduction in the Rent collected by Landlord during any portion of the term of this Lease.

Office Lease

Without limitation as to other reasonable grounds for withholding consent, the parties hereby agree that it shall be reasonable under this Lease and under any applicable law for Landlord to withhold consent to any proposed Transfer where one or more of the following apply: (i) The Transferee is of a character or reputation or engaged in a business which is not consistent with the quality of the Building; (ii) The Transferee intends to use the Premises for purposes which are not permitted under this Lease; (iii) The Transferee is a governmental agency; (iv) The Transfer occurs prior to the first anniversary of the Lease Commencement Date; (v) The Transferee has a net worth of less than $10,000,000.00; (vi) The proposed Transfer would cause a violation or trigger a termination right of another lease for space in the Building; or (vii) Either the proposed Transferee, or any person or entity which directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the proposed Transferee, (i) occupies space in the Building at the time of the request for consent, or (ii) is negotiating with Landlord to lease space in the Building at such time, or (iii) has negotiated with Landlord during the six (6)-month period immediately preceding the Transfer Notice.

Reprinted with permission from the March edition of the Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy© 2020 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-257-3382 or [email protected] .

• John G. Kelly

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Leasehold Mortgage vs. Assignment of Lease

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Although leasehold mortgages and assignments of lease are both legal processes relating to property leases, they’re actually very different. A leasehold mortgage is a loan placed on a piece of leased land, usually used by developers for construction projects. An assignment of lease transfers an unexpired lease to someone else, who then takes over the rental payments.

A leasehold mortgage is a loan taken out on a piece of property that is owned by someone else, while an assignment of lease transfers the lease on a property to someone else.

Mortgage Leases and Leasehold Mortgages

Generally, when someone wants to purchase a property, that property is financed using a mortgage. For commercial property buyers, though, mortgage lending isn’t quite as straightforward. There are various types of commercial mortgages, and one of those is a leasehold mortgage .

With a leasehold mortgage, a commercial real estate investor can obtain financing for a building based on the land that person is leasing. Common in real estate development, this type of mortgage gives the developer the funds necessary to put a building on land that is leased, based on the assumption that once construction is finished it will begin generating the income necessary to make it worth it for the property owner.

Assignment of Lease

If you own a home and want to get rid of it, you must either bring in a renter or sell it to someone else. With a lease, though, you can turn over the lease to someone else, provided your landlord is OK with it. This is done through the use of an assignment of lease , which gets you out of an unexpired lease by letting you transfer it to someone else.

Unlike a leasehold mortgage, an assignment of lease is not only a process, but it’s also a title document that both parties must read and sign. This type of arrangement comes in handy if your business fails to become profitable and must close, yet you have a remaining lease on your space. It may also be an option if your business grows so quickly that you need a larger space and therefore must move before your lease expires.

Leasehold Mortgage Versus Lease Assignment

Although leasehold mortgages and lease assignments are different by nature, they also have something in common. They refer to various activities that can take place based on a lease . While leasehold mortgage financing requires taking out a loan, though, a lease assignment is merely transferring an agreement from one party to another.

One similarity between the two is that they both refer to leases, which means property owners may have a stake in the outcome. With a leasehold mortgage, the borrower must have permission to take out such a mortgage – a permission that is usually conveyed as part of a commercial ground lease . With an assignment of lease, the landlord must sign off on the transfer before it can be finalized.

Approvals for Leasehold Mortgages

Getting a leasehold mortgage isn’t just a matter of heading to a bank and asking. The borrower will need to be able to prove that he has the right to request this type of loan . Usually, this starts by looking at the lease and finding the section specific to mortgages on the leased property.

Most commercial ground leases will state that the lessee must provide written notice to the lessor of an impending request to obtain financing for the property. That notice should include contact information for the potential mortgage lender, and the lender should verify that the lease allows a tenant to borrow money from the type of lending institution the borrower has approached.

Approvals for Lease Assignments

A tenant can’t simply turn a lease over to someone else. Obviously, the landlord will have a say in the situation and likely will want to clear the new tenant before approving the transfer. The landlord’s permission is usually granted in the form of a legal document known as the License to Assign .

The landlord’s approval may not be the only thing you’ll need to secure before you can complete an assignment of lease. On your lease agreement, check the section called Alienation , which should detail circumstances in which your landlord can refuse to allow you to assign your lease to someone else. If you fail to go through the landlord approval process, your landlord could later revoke the lease assignment.

Defining a Ground Lease

Before you can establish a mortgage leasehold interest in a property, you first must have the rights to lease the space. Leasehold mortgages are most commonly seen with ground leases, which are commercial leases issued to a tenant who wants to develop property on a lot. The property owner permits the developer to erect a building on that land with the understanding that once development is complete, the land and all the improvements revert back to the owner of that land.

Property owners agree to leasehold mortgages because once development is complete, the owner can then sell the property at a profit. It’s a small price to pay to allow someone to lease the property during the construction phase in order to recoup some money at the end of it. However, it can be risky for the property owner if the person leasing the property stops paying the lease or the leasehold mortgage payment and there’s no one around to pay the rent.

Leasehold Mortgage Foreclosures

If you own a property and stop paying your mortgage, the bank will eventually foreclose. But if you stop making payments on your leasehold mortgage, things get a little more complicated. Someone else owns that property, and that person expects a lease to continue to be paid even if the loan goes bad.

A lender can foreclose on the borrower’s interest in a property , but that same lender likely won’t want to continue to make the rent on that property, even if the owner expects it. Since commercial leases can sometimes run for multiple years, this obligation is something a lender definitely needs to think about. It’s important that agreements be written in a way that the lender doesn’t expressly assume the lease in the event of a foreclosure.

Assignment of Lease Versus Subletting

If you think assignment of lease sounds a lot like subletting , you’re right. But there’s a very specific difference between the two. With an assignment of lease, you are stepping out of the situation and setting up a direct relationship between the new tenant and your previous landlord. With subletting, your relationship with your landlord continues, but you introduce a new relationship between you and a third-party tenant who now pays the rent.

While both processes require legal documentation, subletting puts the agreement between the original tenant and the person who will be staying in the rented property. As with an assignment of lease, though, you’ll need to make sure you have your landlord’s approval before the new person moves in. But neither assignment of lease nor subletting require that you involve a lender, as in the case of leasehold mortgage financing.

Liabilities of Assignments of Lease

As with any type of mortgage lease, when you have a lease on a property, the liability falls on you if you fail to make mortgage payments or you damage the building in some way. When you shift the lease via a legal document, though, this liability goes with it. This only applies if the landlord releases that liability , though, so it’s important to make sure that’s part of your documentation.

Although you may be able to escape liability for what the transferee does to the rental space, there’s one area where liability will probably be unavoidable. If your transferee exits the lease before your original term is up, your landlord will probably come right back to you to fix the issues. Your Assignment of Lease document should detail what will happen in this event, including your right to reoccupy the premises if you choose.

Benefits of a Ground Lease

You may have never heard of these ground leases before, but they’ve definitely happened all around you. Large chain retailers like Whole Foods and Starbucks use ground leases to build new locations on already-owned land, often in situations where they rest alongside other shops and restaurants in a retail strip.

Businesses often choose ground leases with leaseholder mortgages because they can access a property without having to make a considerable down payment. They simply need to obtain leasehold mortgage financing and they can start building. For larger corporations, this is as much a benefit as a slowly growing small business since it keeps capital free for them to spend on other expenses, such as building costs.

Subordinated Ground Lease

When a landlord agrees to a ground lease, often that means agreeing to take a subordinated position if the tenant defaults on her leasehold mortgage. This means your landlord is agreeing that if you don’t make your payments, the property itself acts as collateral. As a result, the landlord may increase rent payments for tenants in order to compensate for that risk.

An unsubordinated ground lease, on the other hand, accounts for any mortgage lease issues by stating that if you don’t pay your rent or your mortgage payments, the property owner takes a top role legally. You may have a tougher time getting a bank to agree to take a lower priority than the landlord and because of this inconvenience, generally, you’ll find the rent is lower to compensate for it.

Leasehold Improvements Versus Leasehold Mortgages

Another term that can be confused with leasehold mortgages is something called leasehold improvements , which can be done without the loan and subsequent mortgage leasehold interest involved in a leasehold mortgage. A leasehold improvement simply refers to adjustments a tenant makes to a property that apply specifically to the internal contents , such as paint, new flooring or upgraded lighting fixtures. This is different from the building improvements that are handled by a landlord and apply specifically to common areas, elevators and other nonrentable areas of a building.

Unlike leasehold mortgages, leasehold improvements don’t involve taking out a loan . The owner may provide a particular amount of money for such improvements, called a Tenant Improvement Allowance. Landlords may also be willing to discount rent or provide money through something called a Building Standard Allowance. In other cases, the landlord himself pays for the improvements in something called a Turnkey Job, which is generally done prior to move-in but can be done while you’re occupying the space, with sufficient notice each time before entering the unit.

Liabilities of Leasehold Mortgages

Before taking a mortgage leasehold interest stake in a property, a lessee will also want to reduce his own liability. If there is a casualty during the time this loan is in place, the developer may find it difficult to get access to the insurance proceeds necessary to repair any damages that were suffered. For that reason, many property owners will employ an escrow agent to hold the funds so that they’re guaranteed to only be used for damage-related costs.

If there’s an injury or another incident on your property during the time you hold a lease, local laws will determine where responsibility falls. Landlord-tenant law covers such a situation, and often landlords have insurance to protect against these types of claims. Although you, as the developer, have a responsibility to keep your worksite safe, the landlord is responsible for ensuring common areas are maintained and proper signage is posted when a hazard exists on site.

• USLegal: Leasehold Mortgage Law and Legal Definition
• JDSupra: When a Lender Forecloses on a Leasehold Interest
• White and Williams LLP: Leasehold Financing: Key Issues for Mortgage Lenders
• What Is A Ground Lease? | Massimo CRE Coach
• LawDepot: What Type of Leases Do You Have?
• Sherin and Lodgen: Why a Leasehold Mortgage?
• FindLaw: Liability for Tenant Injuries and Insurance for Landlords

Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. She spent nearly a year as a ghostwriter for a credit card processing service and has ghostwritten about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, Ecommerce Insiders, GoBankingRates, and ThriveBy30.

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Best Practices: Review of the Most Commonly Negotiated Points in Landlord Subordination Agreements

• October 2, 2019
• Katherine D. Tohanczyn

Many small businesses that seek financing under the SBA 7(a) Loan Program operate from buildings that are leased from a third-party landlord, which can take the form of stand-alone buildings, shopping centers or commercial office parks. These loans are generally underwritten on a cash-flow basis and the primary (or oftentimes the only) collateral is the tangible, business personal property (e.g., equipment, furniture, and inventory) of the borrower located at the leased property.

Whenever a SBA loan includes the borrower’s tangible personal property as collateral, the SBA requires lenders to obtain a lien subordination agreement prior to closing from landlords and sub-landlords, as applicable, giving the lender, at a minimum, in addition to lien subordination provisions: (i) notice of the borrower’s default under the lease, (ii) an opportunity to cure the default, and (iii) access to the leased premises in order to remove collateral. Further, “[w]hen a substantial portion of the loan proceeds are to be used for leasehold improvements or [ii] a substantial portion of the collateral consists of leasehold improvements, fixtures, machinery, or equipment that is attached to leased real estate,” the SBA also requires lenders to obtain a collateral assignment of the lease.

Ideally, lenders should provide the borrower and landlord with a copy of the lender’s form landlord subordination agreement early on in the closing process to provide adequate time for negotiations prior to closing. Commonly negotiated provisions include (i) notice, (ii) time of lender’s possession, (iii) payment of rent, and (iv) assignment of lease.

Most SBA landlord subordination forms require landlord to provide notice to the lender of the borrower’s default under the lease. This notice is important as borrowers often default under the lease prior to defaulting under the subject SBA loan. While the lender’s loan documents may provide that a lease default constitutes a default under the loan, that does not protect the lender if it does not know of the lease default. As such, the landlord subordination agreement should provide that the landlord may not terminate the lease or remove, sell or otherwise dispose of the borrower’s personal property without first providing the lender notice of the borrower’s default and an opportunity to cure or exercise lender’s rights under the landlord subordination agreement.

Time of Possession

Another frequently negotiated section of any landlord subordination agreement is lender’s right to access and occupy the premises in order to inspect and/or remove collateral.  Lenders generally request 60-90 days to enter and remove the collateral but, in some cases, landlords want the property removed in as little as five days. Lenders should carefully consider the minimum amount of time needed based on the location of the property and type of property to be removed.

While a lender is occupying the property, it is usually requested that the lender pay rent to the landlord. However, it is important for lenders to review the language used by the landlord in reference to the amount of rent owed. In some instances, landlords will request that the lender pay rent due and owing under the lease, which appears reasonable on its face. However, a review of the lease may reveal various types and amount of rent. Additionally, lenders should ensure that they are only obligated to pay rent for the time that the lender is actually in possession of the premises.  The lender should ensure it is agreeable to what rent is being paid and limit, if necessary.

Collateral Assignment of Lease

A collateral assignment of lease provision allows the lender to collaterally assign the lease over to a new borrower who is willing to assume the loan and business operation of an original borrower. Landlords are generally hesitant to agree to allow the lender to choose a new tenant. A landlord may be agreeable to allowing an assignment with the landlord’s prior written approval, which approval is generally subject to a review of the creditworthiness of the new tenant. Ultimately, the collateral assignment means that the lender is assisting the landlord with finding a new tenant to rent the property, which is to the benefit of both the landlord and the lender, assuming that the new tenant also assumes part or all of the loan.

Although landlord subordination agreements are generally one to two pages documents, these documents can be challenging to finalize and often result in lengthy negotiations. It is important that lenders are familiar with the terms of the landlord subordination agreement and understand both the lender’s internal policies and SBA requirements when negotiating with landlords.

For more information on negotiating landlord waivers, please contact the attorneys at Starfield & Smith, P.C. at 215.542.7070 or email us at [email protected].

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Assignment of Leases and Rents (Commercial Real Estate Loan) (Pro-Lender) (NY) | Practical Law

Assignment of Leases and Rents (Commercial Real Estate Loan) (Pro-Lender) (NY)

Practical law standard document w-009-4447  (approx. 29 pages).

Lease Purchase Agreement: Benefits for Buyers and Owners

Updated: Feb 16, 2023, 11:00am

If you own a home that you’re having trouble selling, or if you want to buy a home but you’re not financially qualified, a lease purchase agreement could be appealing. Here’s how they work, along with what you should consider as a potential buyer or seller under this type of contract.

What Is a Lease Purchase Agreement?

A lease purchase agreement—also known as a rent-to-own or lease-to-own agreement—lets someone rent a property for a specified period of time with the promise to purchase it at the end of the lease term. The owner is contractually obligated to sell the property to the renter when the end of the term hits. Likewise, it also obligates the renter to buy the property from the owner.

Lease purchase agreements are considered a type of alternative financing (like land contracts ). There’s not a lot of data about how often these arrangements succeed, so both parties should approach them with caution.

We’ll use the terms renter and buyer interchangeably in this article and do the same for the terms owner and seller.

How to Structure a Lease Purchase Agreement

Property sellers and buyers can structure a lease purchase agreement however they want. As long as both parties find the arrangement acceptable, they’re free to set their own terms for both the rental period and the eventual sale.

However, certain terms may have to fall within guidelines established by local, state or federal laws, such as the Fair Housing Act and landlord-tenant laws.

Contract of Sale

The whole point of a lease purchase agreement is for the owner to sell the property and the renter to buy it. So, the contract needs to include sale terms, such as:

• Sale date (or purchase date): The day, month and year when the renter will give the seller the required sum to buy the property and the seller will file paperwork with the local government to record the ownership change.
• Sale price (or purchase price): The amount the renter will pay to purchase the seller’s property. This might be the property’s current market value plus an inflation, appreciation or depreciation factor.
• Option fee (and due date): The sum the renter will pay the owner (and when) for the exclusive right to buy the property on the sale date. This is typically not refundable.
• Option agreement: Whether the seller will put the renter’s option fee toward the purchase price or not.
• Right to sell the option: Whether the renter can sell the purchase option to another party (for example, if the renter needs to move out of state or realizes it won’t be financially feasible to buy the home).
• Owner default: The consequences if the owner decides not to sell the property.
• Buyer default: The consequences if the renter decides not to buy the property.

Both the buyer and seller may want to review each other’s credit reports for red flags as well. If the buyer’s credit is poor, they may not qualify for a mortgage by the purchase date. If the seller’s credit is problematic, their home could be at risk of foreclosure.

The contract should also outline who will pay certain closing costs . It may be wise for the buyer to perform a title search before signing the contract so that they can confirm—at least as of the lease start date—no one else has a claim against the property. Sellers must also provide buyers with certain disclosures about the property’s condition and history, such as lead-based paint disclosures for most homes built before 1978.

Similarly, it may be wise to pay for a professional home inspection and appraisal up front to make sure the property is worth the purchase price.

Lease Period

The lease period works much like a traditional lease, but with a few key differences. The contract will need to define the terms of the lease period leading up to the sale, such as the beginning and ending dates of the lease, monthly rent amount, security deposit, rent increases and penalties for late payments or breaching the agreement.

In addition, the contract should also go over the following:

• How much rent is allocated to the purchase price: What portion of the monthly rent payment, if any, will the owner consider to be part of the renter’s down payment toward owning the property.
• Escrow: Stipulating the use of an escrow service to protect the renter (and how the renter and owner will share the cost of this service). The escrow company will collect and hold the renter’s security deposit, option payment and portion of the rent allocable toward the down payment until the renter buys the home or defaults on the contract.
• Right to sublet: Whether the renter can sublease all or part of the home to anyone else during the lease term.
• Modifications: What changes, if any, the renter can make to the property.
• Lease cancellation: How much the renter will owe the owner, in addition to forfeiting the option fee and any additional rent, if they break the lease.
• Insurance: The owner may need to carry landlord insurance to protect the property the renter intends to buy. Renters may need to carry renters insurance to protect personal possessions and provide liability coverage.
• Property taxes: The owner must remain current on property tax payments.
• Maintenance, repairs and utilities: Which maintenance, repairs or utilities, if any, the renter will be responsible for and which the owner will be responsible for.

Buyers and owners may wish to add additional terms to the contract defining things like pet rules, smoking rules and parking fees. Each party would be wise to hire a real estate attorney or real estate agent to represent them and help protect their interests in drawing up the contract.

Pros and Cons of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Buyers

The renter will have to accept certain risks in exchange for potential rewards when they enter a lease purchase agreement.

Pros of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Buyers

• Time to improve finances: The lease period gives the buyer time to save up for a down payment and increase their income so they’ll be in a stronger position to buy and own a home. It also gives them time to pay down debt and establish a record of making monthly payments on time.
• Opportunity to lock in a purchase price and property: It can be hard to save for a home when market prices are a moving target, and it can be hard to find the right property to buy. A lease purchase agreement gives the renter a chance to secure their preferred home and purchase price without having to pay the full price up front.
• Chance to test out the home and neighborhood: While losing the option fee and any rent payments would be costly, they might be an acceptable loss if the renter decides the property is unsuitable for their long-term needs.

Cons of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Buyers

• Loss of down payment and option fee: If the buyer can’t improve their finances enough to qualify for a mortgage by the sale date, they forfeit their option fee and additional rent payments (if any) to the seller. They may also have to move and secure a new lease, both of which could be costly.
• Seller could fail to pay landlord insurance, mortgage or property taxes: If they don’t maintain insurance, there might not be funds available to repair any property damage a policy would have covered. If the owner’s mortgage lender or the local tax authorities place a tax lien on the property, it could prevent the renter from being able to buy it. The renter might even get evicted during the lease term. Other life disruptions (divorce, disability, serious illness) could also cause the seller to lose the home.
• Seller could back out: If the home’s value increases significantly over the lease period, the seller might have a strong financial incentive to break the agreement, assuming the contract doesn’t provide a significant penalty for doing so.

Pros and Cons of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Sellers

The property owner will also have to accept certain risks in exchange for the potential reward of selling their home.

Pros of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Sellers

• Sell an unmarketable home: Most owners would rather sell their home immediately and not deal with a lease purchase agreement. If attempts at a regular sale have failed, a lease purchase agreement could be the solution.
• Earn money even if the sale falls through: The option fee and possibly excess rent—along with the regular rental income from the property—could be better than letting the property sit vacant.
• Get a more responsible tenant: Someone who intends to buy a property will likely take care of it as if it were their own.

Cons of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Sellers

• Lose money if the home’s value increases: Locking in a sale price at the outset could backfire if the local real estate market appreciates more than expected.
• Tenant could be a nightmare: Even a tenant who seemingly wants to buy the home may take poor care of the property or fail to pay rent. The owner could have to evict them, which can be an expensive, lengthy and difficult process.
• Buyer could back out: If the home’s value decreases significantly from the lease purchase agreement price, the buyer might have a strong financial incentive to break the agreement. There’s also no guarantee that the buyer will be able to qualify for a mortgage when it’s time to buy the home.

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Amy Fontinelle is a freelance writer, researcher and editor who brings a journalistic approach to personal finance content. Since 2004, she has worked with lenders, real estate agents, consultants, financial advisors, family offices, wealth managers, insurance companies, payment companies and leading personal finance websites. Amy also has extensive experience editing academic papers and articles by professional economists, including eight years as the production manager of an economics journal.