Personal Guaranty If the tenant’s business is not credible then the landlord should consider having the tenant sign a Personal Guaranty which binds the owner of the Company to the lease. So if the tenant defaults the individual’s assets would be liable, not just the business. Step 9 – Determine the Security Deposit Once the tenant has been approved by the landlord the Security Deposit should be made known to the tenant. In residential real estate, there are State Laws that limit how much a landlord may ask from the tenant. In commercial real estate, there are no limits to how much the landlord would like to charge the tenant. The landlord will commonly ask between 2-3 months rent in case the tenant stops paying the monthly rent or to safeguard against any damage that the tenant may cause during their time on the property. Step 10 – Write the Commercial Lease Agreement Use an attorney or draft the lease yourself. Make sure to gather all the information about the property and the tenant and enter into the agreement. Once completed, the document should be signed with the tenant and landlord in the presence of a notary public. This way the signatures are proven and the agreement is much more likely to hold up in court if its legality is ever questioned. Step 11 – Taking Occupancy After the security deposit has cleared and the lease has been signed the tenant should take occupancy. This means that the tenant can begin using the space as directed for use in the lease. Both parties will be held accountable for their specified duties until the end of the lease term. Estoppel Certificate – May be requested by the landlord after lease signing to certify a lease exists between the tenant and landlord. Required Clauses American’s with Disability Act (42 U.S. Code § 12183) – Also known as the ‘ADA’, requires that any commercial tenants which offer “public accommodation” (such as a restaurant, retail store, etc.) or have at least fifteen (15) employees adhere to all handicap access rules. This rule is only grandfathered to properties that have not been built or had renovations since 1992. Per 42 U.S. Code § 12183 if the Lessee is using the Premises as a public accommodation (e.g. restaurants, shopping centers, office buildings) or there are more than 15 employees the Premises must provide accommodations and access to persons with disabilities that is equal or similar to that available to the general public. Owners, operators, lessors, and lessees of commercial properties are all responsible for ADA compliance. If the Premises is not in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act any modifications or construction will be the responsibility of the Lessor. Hazard Waste (42 U.S. Code § 6901) – Forces the tenant to sign in writing that they will adhere to any federal, State, or local laws in regards to the disposal of hazardous wastes. “Shall mean any and all federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, rules, decrees, orders, regulations, or court decisions relating to hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, toxic substances, environmental conditions on, under, or about the Premises, the Building, or the Property, or soil and ground water conditions, including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, any other law or legal requirement concerning hazardous or toxic substances, and any amendments to the foregoing.” Other Lease Terms In addition, there may be other areas of the lease, outside of the monthly rent, that the parties may want to negotiate such as: Option to Renew – Use if the tenant would like to have the option to stay in the property for a longer time then they may request an ‘Option to Renew’ the lease. This gives them the right to extend the lease for a specified rental price if they want. Option to Purchase – Use if the tenant would like the option to purchase the property for a specified price during the course of their lease. First (1st)
Guaranty Each Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally, jointly and severally guarantees, as primary obligor and as a guaranty of payment and performance and not merely as a guaranty of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, upon acceleration, demand or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all Secured Obligations (for each Guarantor, subject to the proviso in this sentence, its “Guaranteed Obligations”); provided that (a) the Guaranteed Obligations of a Guarantor shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor and (b) the liability of each Guarantor individually with respect to this Guaranty shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations shall include any such indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities, or portion thereof, which may be or hereafter become unenforceable or compromised or shall be an allowed or disallowed claim under any proceeding or case commenced by or against any debtor under any Debtor Relief Laws. The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon each Guarantor, and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Secured Obligations. This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Secured Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Secured Obligations, or by the existence, validity, enforceability, perfection, non-perfection or extent of any collateral therefor, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Secured Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of the Guarantors, or any of them, under this Guaranty, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to any or all of the foregoing.
