Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Four Archetypes of a Defaulting Tenant and How to Handle Them

By Theodore Yi, Charles Harper and Adam Falkof
August 01, 2023

Commercial real estate landlords depend on the success of their tenants to continue to pay rent and otherwise satisfy their lease obligations. If the tenant's business is struggling, it may have difficulty paying the rent and default may not be far off. Even if the struggling tenant is able to continue to pay rent, they may come to landlord to request some sort of rent deferral or other relief or perhaps lease restructuring, including downsizing or early termination.

As a preliminary matter, the landlord needs to know its lease and landlord's rights and remedies under the lease as well as at law. The landlord should get its legal advisor involved early and keep its legal advisor aware of potential lease defaults. As time passes, options and remedies may close.

But ultimately every distressed tenant will have a different situation and story to tell. Each will have a different approach to handling its lease obligations. Following is a primer to help the commercial landlord prepare for the default conversation with the tenant by looking at the different potential types of defaulting tenants it may face and advice on how to handle each type.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
How Secure Is the AI System Your Law Firm Is Using? Image

In a profession where confidentiality is paramount, failing to address AI security concerns could have disastrous consequences. It is vital that law firms and those in related industries ask the right questions about AI security to protect their clients and their reputation.

COVID-19 and Lease Negotiations: Early Termination Provisions Image

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some tenants were able to negotiate termination agreements with their landlords. But even though a landlord may agree to terminate a lease to regain control of a defaulting tenant's space without costly and lengthy litigation, typically a defaulting tenant that otherwise has no contractual right to terminate its lease will be in a much weaker bargaining position with respect to the conditions for termination.

Pleading Importation: ITC Decisions Highlight Need for Adequate Evidentiary Support Image

The International Trade Commission is empowered to block the importation into the United States of products that infringe U.S. intellectual property rights, In the past, the ITC generally instituted investigations without questioning the importation allegations in the complaint, however in several recent cases, the ITC declined to institute an investigation as to certain proposed respondents due to inadequate pleading of importation.

The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies Image

Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.

Authentic Communications Today Increase Success for Value-Driven Clients Image

As the relationship between in-house and outside counsel continues to evolve, lawyers must continue to foster a client-first mindset, offer business-focused solutions, and embrace technology that helps deliver work faster and more efficiently.