Houtan Hormozian runs through multiple-choice questions on property and landlord-tenant law, covering topics like licenses versus easements and what surrender means in a lease.
Question of the day. Question number one: Oscar and Susan are next-door neighbors. Susan tells Oscar that he can store his camper in her yard for a few weeks until she needs the space. Susan did not charge Oscar rent for the use of her yard. Susan has given Oscar I what? A. Easement by necessity. B. Estate in land. C. Easement appurtenant. D. License. The answer is D, license. Granting the use of property for a defined period for a specific purpose is almost always a form of licensing. Easements grant only access, not ownership, use, or occupancy rights. Further, that access is generally for the benefit of the property owner, such as maintaining utilities or sidewalks, Question number 2: An agreement which terminates future lessor-lessee obligations under a lease is called: A. Novation. B. Surrender. C. Assumption. D. Breach. The answer is B. Surrender. The word surrender presupposes the possession or ownership of of the thing that is to be returned or given up. In landlord-tenant law, surrender occurs when a tenant agrees to return the leased premises to the landlord before the expiration of the lease, and the landlord agrees to accept the return of the premises.
