Alaska Commercial Lease Agreement Template




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An Alaska Commercial Lease Agreement is basically a two-way contract between you and your property owner. This accord grants you the permission to utilize a space for your business pursuits for a set duration and cost. It's custom-fitted to the precise functions your enterprise plans to execute on the premises. Ensure you grasp each section before you put your signature on it.

What are the related laws for Commercial Lease Agreements in Alaska?

Article 2A of Alaska's Uniform Commercial Code engages with all matters related to leases. It encompasses the diverse procedures, terminologies, and agreements underlying the origination, alteration, enactment, and violation of lease contracts.

A synopsis is outlined in the following sections of said article:

  • Section 400.2A-103 delivers denotations, highlighting numerous terms interconnected with lease contracts along with their corresponding interpretations.
  • Section 400.2A-219 manages scenarios of risk transfer, detailing the conditions and instances where the risk of loss from items can materialize.
  • Section 400.2A-506 designates the limitation period for resolving disputes stemming from lease contracts. It cites that the involved parties are permitted to curtail the limitation period to a least duration of a single year.

Legal Provisions - Article 2A, Alaska Uniform Commercial Code

 

What's included in an Alaska Commercial Lease Agreement?

Here are some key components that are typically included in an Alaska Commercial Lease Agreement:

  1. Permitted Uses
  2. Term and Option to Extend
  3. Repairs and Maintenance
  4. Alterations
  5. Insurance
  6. Events of Default
  7. Holdover

How to write a Commercial Lease Agreement

As an entrepreneur, you could be overwhelmed by the intricate legal terms often used. However, armed with a detailed plan and the correct advice, you can readily craft your lease agreement. Let's delve into the fundamentals of a commercial lease contract and how to mold it to suit your requirements – think of this as your amiable, clear-cut guide to maneuvering the realm of commercial leases.

1. Permitted Uses

The "Approved Operations" provision informs you about the appropriate use of the leased asset. It explicitly highlights the authorized activities, such as manufacturing operations, administrative tasks, warehousing, dissemination, and the creation and distribution of goods.

It's vital to precisely note down all your proposed business tasks in this section. This lucidity aids in circumventing potential legal disputes and guarantees effective utilization of resources. Furnish every specific to prevent unanticipated developments in the future. This knowledge helps maintain your business's trajectory.

Industrial and light manufacturing, warehousing, office, distribution, and assembly, including designing, manufacturing and distributing branded merchandise and promotional products, including all activities incident or ancillary thereto and all other lawful uses and purposes.

2. Term and Option to Extend

(a) This pertains to the duration of the lease and its prolongations. It commences on the Acknowledged Date and concludes on the Cease Date. You're permitted to elongate it for two additional two-year spans under identical stipulations, though rental cost may escalate. Send written notice to the property owner 30 days prior to term conclusion for extension.

(b) "Period" characterizes both your primary lease time-frame and any subsequent elongations.

Decipherable lease periods are vital for strategic business development and functioning, as well as potential elongations.

(a)    The initial term of this Lease will commence on the Effective Date and expire on the Expiration Date. The Tenant may extend the Term of this Lease for [two] additional [two]-year extension term(s), on all the same terms and conditions (except for Rent, which will increase during extension Terms as provided below) contained in this Lease, by notifying the Landlord in writing of the Tenant’s election to do so not less than 30 days before the expiration date of the then-current Term, as the case may be.


(b)    The initial term and any applicable extension term are referred to in this Lease as the “Term.”

3. Repairs and Maintenance

The "Fixes and Upkeep" section simplifies who takes care of maintenance tasks. It encompasses both inside and outside concerns, such as malfunctioning pipes or deteriorated masonry. The expenses land on the property owner, not you.

If the repairs aren't promptly dealt with, you can arrange for the needed work and deduct the cost from your rent. Make sure you always record these cases for future use. This provision is essential, as it outlines maintenance duties and safeguards you from unforeseen expenditures.

From and after the Effective Date, and for the remainder of the Term, the Landlord shall perform ordinary maintenance and repair of the interior of the improvements on the Premises. In addition, the Landlord shall, at its own cost and expense without reimbursement by the Tenant, keep and maintain in good condition and repair, and make all necessary repairs and replacements to, the exterior walls, building slabs, foundations, structural parts and components, parking lots, gutters, downspouts, roof, roof membrane and coverings and any other part, component or system on the exterior of the Premises. The Landlord shall, at its own cost and expense without reimbursement by the Tenant, keep and maintain in good condition and repair, and make all necessary repairs and replacements to the sprinkler system, mechanical, HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems of the Premises. If the Landlord fails to perform any repair or replacement required to be made by the Landlord in this Lease, and the Landlord fails to cure such failure within 15 days after receipt of a written demand from the Tenant (or immediately, in the case of emergency repairs, including loss of heating and air conditioning), then the Tenant may make such repair or replacement and the Landlord shall reimburse the Tenant for the cost thereof. If the Landlord fails to pay such amount, then the Tenant may offset against the Rent due hereunder the amount so expended.

4. Alterations

"Modifications" outlines your privileges to adapt the rented area. You may initiate modifications without obtaining landlord approval, yet substantial changes become the property owner's possession. You are encouraged to remove personal assets, such as rack segregation or equipment, as long as it doesn't inflict harm to the premises. Grasping this provision may alleviate disagreements and assist in formulating your business arrangement efficiently.

The Tenant may, at its own cost and expense and in a good workmanlike manner, make such alterations, additions, or improvements or erect, remove, or alter such partitions, or erect such racks, shelves, bins, machinery, furniture, fixtures, trade fixtures, equipment, and other personal property as it may deem advisable, without the consent of the Landlord. All fixtures and permanent alterations, additions, improvements, and partitions erected by the Tenant will be and remain the property of the Landlord during the Term, and will be abandoned by the Tenant at the expiration of this Lease. All racks, shelves, bins, machinery, furniture, equipment, and other personal property located in the Premises as of the Effective Date or otherwise installed by the Tenant may be removed by the Tenant at any time if the Tenant so elects. All such removals and restoration shall be accomplished so as not to damage the primary structure or structural qualities of the buildings and other improvements situated on the Premises.

5. Insurance

The "Insurance" provision secures both lessee and lessor. As a tenant, you must acquire property and liability coverage, designating the landlord as an extra insured party. The landlord handles insurance for any damages to the property.

'Waivers of subrogation' halt insurers from pursuing the other individual after incurring a loss. Make sure your insurance provider informs the landlord 30 days prior to policy termination. Familiarizing yourself with these conditions reinforces your business' financial safety.

(a)    At all times during the Term, the Tenant shall maintain, at its sole cost and expense, policies of insurance containing the following insurance coverages (which policies shall name the Landlord as an additional insured):

 

(1)    Property insurance with premiums paid in advance insuring the Tenant’s property using the standard Special Causes of Loss Form or equivalent for the full replacement value. The foregoing is referred to in this Lease as “Property Insurance.”

 

(2)    Commercial general liability insurance with respect to the Premises in amounts not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate limit using current ISO forms or equivalent.

 

(b)    The Landlord shall obtain and keep in force during the Term of this Lease a policy or policies of insurance covering loss or damage to the Premises, in the amount of the full replacement value thereof, as the same may exist from time to time, but in no event less than the total amount required by lenders having liens on the Premises, against all perils included within the classification of fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief, flood (in the event same is required by a lender having a lien on the Property), and special extended perils ("all risk" as such term is used in the insurance industry). Such insurance must provide for a payment of loss thereunder to the Landlord or to the holder of mortgages or deeds of trust on the Premises.

 

(c)    The policies required by this section must provide for standard waivers of any right of subrogation that the insurer of such party may acquire against the other party to this Lease, for losses that are actually insured against, even if the loss results from a negligent act or omission. The Tenant’s insurance company must provide the Landlord with a certificate of insurance on form ACORD-27 (for Property Insurance required to be carried under this Lease), or its equivalent, and ACORD-25 (for liability insurance required to be carried under this Lease), or its equivalent, which provides that the insurance may not be cancelled without giving the named insured at least 30 days’ prior written notice (or at least ten days’ written notice of cancellation in the event of the non-payment of premium). The Tenant may carry any required insurance under a blanket policy if that policy complies with the requirements of this Lease.

6. Events of Default

The "Default Conditions" stipulation itemizes behaviors that are perceived as violations of your lease agreement. Common instances encapsulate failing to submit rent payments, encountering bankruptcy, or not adhering to lease stipulations. It is crucial to familiarize yourself with this segment and steer clear of these traps to preserve a harmonious relationship with your landlord and efficiently operate your business.

The following events will be deemed to be Events of Default by the Tenant under this Lease:
(1)    The Tenant fails to pay any installment of the Rent hereby reserved when due, or any other payment or reimbursement to the Landlord required under this Lease when due, and such failure continues for a period of 30 days after the Tenant’s receipt of written notice of such nonpayment;
(2)    The Tenant becomes insolvent, or makes a transfer in fraud of creditors, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;
(3)    The Tenant files a bankruptcy petition or Tenant is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent in proceedings filed against the Tenant;
(4)    A receiver or trustee is appointed for all or substantially all of the assets of the Tenant; and
(5)    The Tenant fails to comply with any term, provision, or covenant of this Lease (other than the foregoing in this section 18), and does not cure such failure within 30 days after written notice thereof to the Tenant, or such longer period as may be necessary to cure such default provided the Tenant has promptly commenced curing such default and is diligently proceeding to obtain such cure.

7. Holdover

The "Excess Occupancy" provision addresses cases where you extend your leasehold. Should you fail to vacate by the lease's conclusion, you will incur 125% of the standard rent for every excess occupancy month. Be sure to recognize the expenses tied with lengthened occupancy and create your departure approach accordingly.

If the Tenant holds over after the expiration of the Term and does not surrender the Premises prior to the expiration of the Term, then for each such month that the Tenant is holding over, the Tenant shall pay to Landlord 125% of the Rent due under this Lease for each month.

What happens when a Commercial Lease Agreement expires?

As a commercial lease reaches its termination, a number of outcomes may transpire. There are excellent references that sketch out possible sequences:

  • Extend or Finalize: Enterprises in a leasehold should contemplate whether to extend or finalize their leasing contract well ahead of its termination. Commencing this progression 6 to 12 months beforehand is advised best conduct.
  • Shift to Rolling Lease: Given the original agreement is not extended or a fresh contract is not authorized, the lessee might transition into a rolling lease, conditional on the lessor's consent.
  • Lessor Claims Occupancy: Occasionally, as a professional lease terminates, the lessor may decide to claim occupancy of the property independently, for residential or commercial uses.
  • Possibility of Legal Proceedings: If dilemmas arise around the lease's termination, such as a lessee persistently deferring rent payments or not complying with leasing conditions, the termination of a lease may end in a legal proceedings.

What are the penalties for breaking Commercial Lease Agreements?

Certainly, consequences for breaching a commercial leasing agreement can diverge, but generally encompass these frequent penalties:

  • Outstanding Rent: More often than not, one of the primary repercussions for disavowing a commercial lease is that the lessee is held accountable for the outstanding rent according to the lease's duration, despite departing the property.
  • Notification Interval: The majority of commercial lessors require a notification span ranging between 30, 60, up to 90 days when the lessee resolves to break the lease.
  • Severance Charges and Supplementary Costs: Depending on the stipulations outlined in the leasing agreement, commercial leases may impose severance charges, and also hold the lessee liable for any promotional expenditures involved in procuring a new tenant and potential sanitization expenses.
  • Legal Ramifications: Depending on the specifics and nature of the violation, if dissatisfaction resolution mechanisms within the contract are depleted, the matter may escalate to legal recourse or culminate in a courtroom dispute.

As the details of consequences may diverge based on the lease contract, it's critical to meticulously assess the lease agreement to understand the precise conditions entailed in premature termination.