Marks v. Chapman

135 Iowa 320 | Iowa | 1907

McClain, J.

The lease was executed April 18, 19.03, for a term of two years, at a monthly rental of $35; the premises to be used by lessee for laundry purposes. Under the lease rent was paid until September, 1904, when the Chapins, who had in the meantime purchased the laundry • business and machinery from Chapman, removed to another building and refused to pay rent for the balance of the term. Plaintiff, as assignee of the lease,, sues for the balance of the rent, and for damages for breach of covenant on the part of lessee to surrender the premises in as good condition as reasonable use thereof will permit, and to keep the same in good repair, and to close up and make good at the end of the lease any holes in the cellar bottom or walls caused by making connection with sewer drain, and asks the enforcement of a landlord’s lien as to any amount found due the plaintiff as provided in the lease. With respect to liability for rent, the' defendants contend that the premises were abandoned-for breach of covenant on the part of the lessor to furnish “ second. party with right to connect with sewer drain at rear of store building with drainage and fall sufficient to carry off water ” ; and there was a denial of any liability for damages for failure to keep in repair, or to close up and make good, holes in cellar bottom or walls caused by making the drain connection. As no complaint is made of the dismissal of the counterclaims and cross-petition, the issues thereby raised need not be stated.

1. Landlord and tenant: covenants: breach: abandonment I. It is argued for appellant that the language of the lease with reference to drainage does not constitute a covenant to furnish sufficient drainage, but only a permission to make connection with the existing sewer drain at the rear of the building, which was a private . x drain constructed at the expense of the lessor and another property owner. But we think the language imposed upon the lessor the obligation to furnish a sewer drain which should have fall sufficient to carry off the water in quantity and manner involved in the use of the building for laundry purposes; the specific use to which the premises were to be put having been understood between the parties, at the time of the making of the lease. This being the meaning of the language used, a failure on the part of the lessor to provide sufficient drainage would justify the lessee in abandoning the premises and preclude the recovery of rent after such abandonment. Piper v. Fletcher, 115 Iowa, 263; Filkins v. Steele, 124 Iowa, 742. The evidence is in conflict as to the sufficiency of the drain, but we are satisfied that the preponderance is in support of the contention made in behalf of defendants that the drainage was «insufficient for laundry purposes. The drain did in fact fail to carry off the water, and it backed up into the cellar of the other owner of the drain who had never consented to its use to carry off water from a laundry, and who complained of the ' use thus made of it. Such joint owner might have enjoined its use for another purpose than that for which it was constructed. Kenilworth Sanitarium v. Kenilworth, 220 Ill. 264 (77 N. E. 226).

There is some evidence for appellant tending to show that this insufficiency of the drain might have been due to obstructions from time to time resulting from articles of clothing being allowed to pass into it, but we are not satisfied that this testimony is sufficient to show that the drain was such as the lessor agreed to furnish. The defendants were not bound, therefore, to pay rent after abandoning the premises on account of the failure of lessor to furnish sufficient drainage. With reference to this defense, it is wholly immaterial whether defendant Chapman had a right to transfer his leasehold interest to defendants Chapin, and thereby escape further liability for rent, or whether defendants Chapin acquired any interest in the premises by such transfer, for it appears without question that the plaintiff knew of this transfer, and at least impliedly consented to it, by afterward accepting either from the Chapins directly or from Chapman the rent provided for in the lease.

2. Tenants to restore premises. II. As to the failure to repair generally, the complaint of plaintiff had reference almost entirely to the failure of defendants to restore the building to the condition in which it was at the time the lease was made. When Chapman took possession of the building un- , .... der the lease to use it for laundry purposes,, he cut- a hole in the roof for a standpipe, and another for a smokestack, and another for the dry room, and he also made changes in certain doors and partitions to adapt the premises to convenient use as a laundry. But we think that the covenant to repair did not require the lessee to obliterate these alterations and put the premises in the same shape in which they were when the lease was made. Having the right to make alterations to adapt the building to the intended use, the lessee was not under obligation to restore the building to its former condition. His only liability under the lease was to surrender the premises “ in as good condition as reasonable use thereof would permit,” and to “ keep said premises . . . in as good repair as they now are.” To make authorized alterations did not constitute a breach of the condition to keep in repair.

3. same: damages. III. The appeal by Chapman does not raise any question which would justify elaborate discussion. As there was a specific covenant to make the drainage connections at his own expense, and to close up and make good any holes in the cellar bottom or walls caused by making such connections, we think Chapman, or any one claiming under him, was bound to restore the premises in that respect to the condition they were in before the connections were made, and the decree in favor of plaintiff against Chapman for damages in the amount of $5 for not doing so was correct. We do not understand that there is any complaint on the part of appellant that judgment for this amount was not rendered against the Chapins.

' We are satisfied that the decree does substantial justice as between the parties, and it is affirmed-.