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The Unwarranted Implication Of A Warranty Of Fitness In Commercial Leases-An Alternative Approach, Fred W. Bopp, Iii

Vanderbilt Law Review

The classical landlord-tenant relationship has undergone a substantial transformation since its origin in feudal England. The most recent and far-reaching change has been the emergence of an implied warranty of habitability in residential leases.' An overwhelming majority of jurisdictions recognizes this implied warranty either by statute or judicial decisions or both. These same jurisdictions, however, uniformly have rejected an extension of the underlying rationale to the commercial setting by refusing to imply an analogous warranty of fitness or suitability in nonresidential leases. Consequently, while modern notions of consumer protection have made rapid advances in residential tenancies, commercial lease law continues …