A Second Chance for Innovation— European Inspiration for the Revised Uniform Residential Landlord...
Transcript of A Second Chance for Innovation— European Inspiration for the Revised Uniform Residential Landlord...
A Second Chance for Innovation—European Inspiration for the Revised Uniform
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Professor Melissa T. LonegrassLouisiana State University
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
A Foundation for Comparative Study
• Why Comparative Law– Comparative study is lacking: Why? – A call for comparative analysis
• France– A pro-tenant, protectionist regime
• England/Wales– A pro-landlord, consensual regime
• European Law– European Convention on Human Rights– EU Directive on Unfair Contract Terms
The Warranty of Habitability
• Scope– France: Extensive protections for the tenant– England: Little to no implied obligation to repair
• Personal Injury and Property Damages– France: Recovery in contract and in tort– England: Tort damages only
• Waiver and Modification – France: Protectionist– England: Consensual
Termination and Eviction
• In General – France: Significant security of tenure– England: Termination at will
• Specific Implications– Domestic Violence Concerns – Retaliatory Eviction
Assignment and Subletting
• The Tenant’s Right to Assign and Sublease– Default rules restrict the right to alienate – The landlord’s right to consent
• Consequences of Assignment and Subletting– Release of tenant following assignment– Privity of landlord and sublessee
Foreign Innovations
• The Tenant’s Right to Buy– France: The right of first refusal– England: The right of enfranchisement
• Alternative Dispute Resolution – Voluntary and mandatory conciliation