Articles Posted in Commercial Leasing

Recently in the news is a story about a bagel store in the West Village neighborhood in Manhattan which became an “internet sensation” and its resulting popularity is causing problems with its landlord.  It seems that, according to the landlord, the store has been unable, or unwilling, to accommodate the large crowds seeking its bagels, and this has created lines out in the sidewalk and street, which the landlord has claimed is a violation of its lease.

The situation raises many legal questions, a discussion of which should be helpful to both commercial landlords and tenants who may find themselves in similar situations.

First, what happens in a legal sense once a landlord believes that a tenant is violating the terms of the lease?  In general, most violations of a commercial lease will cause the landlord to issue a Notice to Cure.  What this means is that the landlord, or their managing agent or attorney, will serve a Thirty Day Notice to Cure on the tenant.  This document will formally notify the tenant that it is not in compliance with a material term of its lease, and that the tenant now has thirty days to cure the violation.  In the case of Apollo Bagels, the landlord stated in its thirty-day notice that the lease was being violated in that business was being conducted outside of the premises, and that the lines of customers outside the store created a nuisance or unreasonable annoyance, another breach of the lease.

Our firm often receives inquires regarding renewals of residential leases.  As prior blog posts have discussed, in general, a tenant in New York has no legal right to an automatic renewal lease, unless the rental unit is subject to some type of rent regulation.  Another exception may be where the lease itself contains a clause that allows either party to renew the lease upon proper notice to the other party.  The notice period may be 30 or 60 days (or even a longer time length) prior to the current lease expiration, so it is important for experienced counsel to review residential leases to ensure that, if a party wishes to renew, proper notice is timely sent to the other party under the lease terms.

However, it is also possible that the renewal clause itself may contain language which makes it unenforceable under New York law.  The main example of this situation is where the “renewal” language is insufficiently specific as to the terms of a possible renewal.  In general, a renewal clause must contain fairly exact terms as to the renewal lease term, as well as the amount of monthly rent to be paid under a renewal.

For example, if the renewal clause states that the tenant may renew this lease for an additional one year term at the same rent as the current lease, this would be enforceable, assuming that the tenant gives the proper notice as delineated in the lease for a renewal.  Another enforceable example would be if the clause states that the lease can be renewed for an additional one year term at a 5% rent increase.

We have represented both landlords and tenants with respect to commercial leases.  This post will examine the particulars to be considered when a doctor or medical practice is the tenant.

When evaluating a potential location, the proposed tenant should first determine whether the space is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).  For instance, if the building has steps to its front entrance, is a ramp also installed to allow for wheelchair access?  Is there an elevator and if so, is it also suitable to be used by patients with wheelchairs.  Do the restroom facilities comply with ADA?

In the event that the space is not ADA compliant or requires adjustments to be suited for the installation of medical equipment, the parties may decide that the space will be built out before the tenant occupies.  The parties will decide which one of them will be responsible for the build out costs and whether the tenant will be afforded a rent concession until such time as the space is completely constructed and ready for use, provided that the tenant exercises diligence in completing the construction, in accordance with building permits to be obtained and without the attachment of mechanics liens to the property.

As the COVID-19 pandemic fades, some legal cases that were temporarily postponed by the Courts, such as commercial evictions , are resuming and going forward in litigation.  A recent case in the news involved the popular family restaurant Applebee’s, and its location in the heart of New York City,   in Times Square.

The case involved the non-payment of rent totaling over seven million dollars by Applebee’s during the pandemic.  The company argued that it had cash flow problems worsened by the pandemic, had to completely close its Times Square location in March, 2020, and could not reopen until June, 2021.

The attorneys for the landlord argued that there were no clauses in the commercial lease allowing Applebee’s to avoid making payments owed during the pandemic.  The Court ruled that Applebee’s had to pay the full amount of the back rent, and also ordered that it be evicted from the Times Square location.

Our readers may be pleased to hear that mask mandates are falling like dominoes throughout the area served by our attorneys.  This newfound attitude heralds a time of optimism.  However, the scars created by the COVID era remain, particularly with respect to commercial leases.  This post will examine some typical provisions in commercial leases that should be reconsidered and negotiated in light of changing times.

In many commercial leases, landlords will prefer strict definitions as to use of the premises and signage permitted on the premises.  For instance, if the tenant is a fitness facility, the landlord may draft the use clause very narrowly and identify the permitted use as a boxing fitness studio.  Should the tenant have difficulty in operating the location, he will not necessarily be able to sublet to another tenant unless the use is the same.  If this particular tenant could not operate a boxing fitness studio during a pandemic, how will he find another tenant who wants to use the space for the same narrow purpose?  As such, an experienced attorney  will ask the landlord to broaden the permitted use in the lease to fitness studio or any lawful use.

Flexibility  is also required with respect to alcohol sales, which may be restricted in a lease.  As our readers may recall, during the pandemic struggling restaurants were permitted to sell alcoholic beverages for takeout.  This was a lifeline for such businesses and should not be prohibited by a lease, which should permit alcohol sales in accordance with current law and not be further restricted by a landlord.  The open restaurants program  in New York City permitted restaurants to operate supplemental space on the sidewalk or in the street appurtenant to the restaurant.  Lease provisions requiring a tenant to keep the sidewalk clear should be modified to permit use as may be permitted by an open restaurant program.

A recent news story in the New York Post raises important issues regarding the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on evictions in New York State.  According to the report, an “Intragram influencer” named Marisa Hochberg owes at least $14,000.00 in past due rent on her summer rental in Montauk, and has refused to vacate the premises, even though her lease expired several months ago.

In ordinary times, an eviction action would be brought by the attorneys for the homeowners in the local landlord-tenant Court, seeking to evict the tenant.  In the Hochberg case, the tenant could be the subject of either a holdover action, or a non-payment action.  First, as her lease expired by its terms, this makes her a month-to-month tenant subject to termination on proper notice (holdover action).  Second, as she has failed to pay rent due, this also allows the possibility of a non-payment proceeding being brought against her.

However, as our readers are aware, these are not ordinary times.  Not all landlord-tenant courts, which are local in nature, are scheduling and hearing cases on a regular basis, due to COVID concerns.  Before attempting to file a case in a local landlord-tenant Court, experienced counsel should contact the Court directly to ensure that they are accepting and scheduling new cases.

As we are all aware, the effects of the COVID-19 virus on commercial leases will be quite substantial.  Many businesses have been forced to limit their hours, or have been forbidden to open at all during this time.  Of course, a business whose income has been limited in this manner will have problems meeting its rent obligations under its lease.

When this occurs, there may be potential liability for the guarantors of such leases.  Under many commercial leases, the principals of the business may be required to personally guarantee payment of the business’ rent obligations.  This means that if the corporate leaseholder fails to pay the rent, the guarantors may be sued personally to remit the sums due under the lease.

There are different types of guarantees under commercial leases, as has been explained in a prior blog post.  Experienced counsel should carefully review the lease to determine its exact terms and the potential obligations of the guarantors.

Rockland County, New York  is an area served by our firm.  Surprisingly, this area has become a hotbed of competition for the hot dog consuming customer.  Perhaps the contestants in the annual 4^th of July hot dog eating contest sponsored by Nathan’s  could even practice for the big event in Rockland.

All kidding aside, there is a classic commercial leasing issue that has arisen in this area.  A fast food restaurant known as Dawg House  developed and was enjoying financial success selling its popular hot dogs.  Recent news outlets have reported  that the large national chain Shake Shack  is planning to lease space in the same center where Dawg House is located.  Dawg House engaged skilled counsel  when it negotiated  its lease.  This issue was foreseen and an exclusivity clause was included in the final lease.

In this case, the exclusivity clause provided that the landlord was forbidden from leasing another space in the same center to a tenant whose primary business is the sale of hot dogs and wieners.  Certainly, Shake Shack sells hot dogs.  However, it also sells burgers, chicken sandwiches, french fries, frozen desserts and particular alcoholic beverages, which menu items Dawg House also sells.  These overlapping menu items are not necessarily forbidden by the exclusivity clause, but common sense dictates that the businesses of Dawg House and Shake Shack overlap.  It may be a matter of litigation as to whether the overlapping menu items as opposed to the primary business in selling hot dogs and wieners triggers the exclusivity clause and its ramifications.