Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Minnesota

Leasee rights to taking improvements with them

My business is coming to the end of an 18 month lease where we are currently doing business. We have bought a new location and are doing some remodeling there. We did some remodeling when we moved into our current location and paid for all of the remodeling. Our lease agreement mentions nothing regarding improvements, modifications, or upgrades that we make. We would like to take some of the things with us, specifically three oak doors and their frames, a custom built desk that is attached to the floor and one wall, and a customer service counter attached to the floor and wall. None of these items, if removed will affect the structure of any walls or ceiling. What rights do we have to take these things? Is there any common law regarding these types of things?

Thank you.


Asked on 6/22/99, 1:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

John Fossum Lundblad, Fossum & Zrimsek, L.L.P.

Re: Leasee rights to taking improvements with them

The answers to your questions are none, and yes. If you did not specifically agree that you could remove those fixtures, you probably cannot take them with you when you go. It is rarely wise to invest money in improving someone else's real estate and this is why. Unless the landlord says its ok, its probably a bad idea to take the doors, desks and other fixtures.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, IF IT WERE, YOU WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT!

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Answered on 6/29/99, 11:54 pm


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