Sniger v. Fentin

Hale, C.J. This is an appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court entered on a bill for declaratory relief. We summarize the facts from the appendix, which includes the report of a master to whom the case was referred. 1 On October 2,1968, Harold M. Fentin (landlord) leased a building in Taunton to Anthony P. Sniger (tenant) for commercial purposes. The lease was in writing and was for a period of two years, with an option to renew for two additional years. Under the terms of the lease the tenant could partition off and sublet the “showroom” area of the building. The lease also provided that there should be no subletting of any other portion of the building without the written consent of the landlord. The landlord was to be responsible for major replacement or repair of the electrical, plumbing and heating systems. On January 2, 1969, the tenant, without the landlord’s permission, sublet both the “showroom” area and a “parts room” .to one White. The landlord then notified the tenant that he considered that the sublease to White constituted a breach of the lease and threatened to bring legal action to evict the tenant. The tenant then brought this action and obtained a restraining order prohibiting the threatened eviction. Shortly thereafter the tenant amended his bill to include a claim for sums expended by him for repairs to the roof and heating system. The master found that the “parts room” was not a part of the “showroom” area and that the tenant had committed a breach of the lease by subletting the parts room. The master also found that the repairs made to the roof had been minor but that those made to the heating system at a cost of $807.46 were the responsibility of the landlord. He concluded that because the tenant was in breach of the lease the landlord was not liable for those repairs. *217 Both parties moved for judgment on the master’s report. The judge entered a judgment holding the landlord liable to the tenant for $807.46, the cost of major repairs to the heating system. See Mass.RCiv.P. 53 (e) (2), 365 Mass. (1974). From that judgment the landlord appeals. The sole issue presented is whether the tenant was precluded from recovering the costs of the repairs to the leased premises by reason of his breach of the lease in respect to the unauthorized sublease. It does not follow, as contended by the landlord, that the tenant’s breach relieved the landlord of his duty to make major repairs. Although the landlord could have taken steps to terminate the lease, there was no finding that the lease was terminated. Nor was there any finding from which we could infer a termination. The lease remained in effect until the expiration of its term in October of 1970. Covenants in leases are generally independent in the absence of any clear indication to the contrary. Barry v. Frankini, 287 Mass. 196, 201 (1934). We find no indication that the covenants in the present lease were intended to be dependent. Since we are of the opinion that the covenants are independent, the landlord remains obligated for damages caused by his failure to repair the heating system despite the unauthorized subletting by the tenant. See McMillan v. Wickstrom, 244 Mass. 159, 163 (1923); A. W. Banister Co. v. P. J. W. Moodie Lumber Corp. 286 Mass. 424, 426-427 (1934); Stone v. Sullivan, 300 Mass. 450, 455 (1938); Restatement: Contracts, § 290 (1932). Contrast Boston Housing Authy. v. Hemingway, 363 Mass. 184, 188-189, 195-197 (1973). As there was no contention that the damages allowed by the Superior Court were excessive (Sims v. Mason, 361 Mass. 881 [1972]), the entry is Judgment affirmed. Footnotes [1] The original order of reference was made on July 8, 1969. Two masters and five and one-half years later, a report was filed.