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