How should a landlord and property manager deal with a problem commercial tenant? One of the first steps is to complete a thorough, well-drafted lease that will anticipate and address most problems. The lease should spell out in detail what circumstances will constitute an event of default under the lease and should state the remedies that are available after an event of default, including immediate eviction and the recovery of damages, attorneys’ fees and other costs of enforcing the lease.

Beyond that, the best thing a landlord can do is find and sign solvent, reliable tenants. Landlords should conduct proper due diligence and get detailed financial statements from prospective tenants. To help ensure payment from corporate tenants, landlords also should require written personal guarantees from the individuals and their spouses who own the corporation or other entity that is the named tenant.

Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.