RONALD GOULD, APPELLANT,
v.
HENRY RUZAKOWSKI, APPELLEE
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A tenant leased a Miami Beach residence for 1974 at $10,000 annually. When the property owner assigned the lease to a new owner without the tenant's written consent (contrary to the lease terms), the tenant continued paying rent to the assignee. The court held that the tenant's acceptance of the assignment by making payments constituted attornment, preserving the lease and the tenant's rent obligation, though the tenant was entitled to credit for the security deposit.
The assignment did not terminate the lease or relieve the tenant of rent obligation. By continuing to make monthly rental payments to the assignee after learning of the assignment, the tenant attorned to the new owner, thereby accepting the assignment and preserving his liability under the lease terms. However, the tenant was entitled to credit for the security deposit against the judgment.
[1] A lease provision prohibiting assignment without written consent is breached by an assignment without such consent.
[2] A tenant's continued payment of rent to an assignee after being informed of the assignment constitutes attornment, waiving the right to claim termination of the lease due…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The contract shall not be assigned by either Lessor or Lessee without the written consent of the other”
Establishes the explicit anti-assignment clause in the lease that was violated when the lessor assigned without the tenant's consent
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGould leased a Miami Beach residence from Patricia Shiftman for calendar year 1974 at $10,000 annual rent ($833.33 monthly), depositing $833.33 as sec…
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PER CURIAM.
The appellant entered into a written lease with Patricia Shiftman, whereby appellant leased from Shiftman a “Private residence, including guest house” on Miami Beach, for a term of one year, being the calendar year of 1974. The rent for the period was $10,000.00, payable in monthly installments of $833.33. Thereunder the lessee deposited $833.33 as security “to cover breakage, loss and/or damage to the furniture, furnishings, fixtures, equipment or property, normal wear and tear excepted.” Regarding assignment, the lease provided: “The contract shall not be assigned by either Lessor or Lessee without the written consent of the other”.
On January 14, 1974 the lessor conveyed the property to Henry Ruzakowski, and on January 15, 1974 the lessor made a written assignment of the lease to the new owner. However, the lessee was without knowledge thereof until the latter part of April 1974 when he was advised of such action by a letter from an attorney representing the lessor. Through May of 1974 monthly rental payments in the amount specified were made by the lessee to the lessor. Subsequent monthly payments were made by the lessor to the new owner, in lesser amounts than specified, $500.00 in June and $400.00 for subsequent months, through November. On December 2, 1974 the owner filed an action against the lessee in the county court alleging rent arrears of $2349.98, seeking recovery thereof and ouster. Complying with the ouster demand, the lessee vacated the premises, and on December 23, 1974 an order was entered by the county court transferring the action to the circuit court. On final hearing in that court judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff against the lessee for $2382.48, representing the unpaid portion of the rent, $2349.98 and costs of $32.50.
On appeal therefrom the lessee contends entry of the judgment was error, on the ground that assignment of the lease by the lessor without lessee’s written consent was a breach of the lease such as to relieve the lessee of liability for such unpaid portion of the stipulated rent. In support thereof the appellant argues the assignment without consent operated to terminate the lease, making his subsequent occupancy of the premises a month to month tenancy at will.
We hold those contentions are without merit. When informed of the sale of the property, and of the assignment of the lease to which he had not given consent, the lessor made no objection thereto, and by making monthly payment to the assignee the lessee attorned. Hankins v. Smith, 103 Fla. 892, 138 So. 494 (1931).
Entry of judgment against the lessee for the unpaid portion of the rent as provided for in the lease was correct, but no sound reason was shown why the lessee should not receive credit for the $833.33 he had given as a security deposit. Accordingly, the judgment is amended to reflect such credit, thereby reducing the judgment from $2382.48 to $1549.15.
As so amended the judgment is affirmed.
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Fernandez v. Vazquez, 397 So. 2d 1171 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)…827 (Fla.4th DCA 1966); or (b) the lessor has waived the right to withhold consent by accepting benefits, Crossman v. Fountainebleau Hotel Corp., 273 F. 2d 720 (5th Cir. 1959); Barber v. Hatch, 380 So. 2d 536 (Fla.5th DCA 1980); Gould v. Ruzakowski, 345 So. 2d 842 (Fla.3d DCA 1977); Leeds Shoes, Inc. v. Wally, 309 So. 2d 249 (Fla.4th DCA 1975); Tollius v. Dutch Inns of America, Inc., 244 So. 2d 467 (Fla.3d DCA 1970). See Annot. 54 A.L.R.3d 679 (1973). . The court in Grumen, supra, lists the following ninetee…
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Horatio Enters., Inc. v. Rabin, 566 So. 2d 73 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990)…ers’ Bank & Trust Co. v. Palms Publishing Co., 86 Fla. 371, 372, 98 So. 143, 144 (1923); Holman v. Halford, 518 So. 2d 442, 443 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Tallahassee Mall, Inc. v. Rogers, 352 So. 2d 1272, 1272-73 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977); Gould v. Ruzakowski, 345 So. 2d 842 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977); Tollius v. Dutch Inns of America, Inc., 244 So. 2d 467 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970), cert. denied, 247 So. 2d 437 (Fla.1971); City of Fort Walton Beach v. Southern State Steel Corp., 202 So. 2d 616 (Fla. 1st DCA 1967); Great Southern Aircr…
Authorities Cited
- Wm. M. Hankins v. Smith, 103 Fla. 892 (Fla. 1931)