A Fixture or a Chattel: The $4.2 Million Question

Likely because the application of the law is uncertain, commercial leases generally have detailed clauses dealing with the question of when a piece of equipment or an improvement installed in a premises becomes a fixture or remains a chattel.  The answer matters as fixtures, in law, are considered to be part of the land and, at the end of a lease, ordinarily would revert to the landlord with the land.

Last year, I blogged about the relevant legal test and its application to equipment installed at a ranch, in part to demonstrate how difficult and apparently whimsical its application could be.  Even though lease terms have evolved to avoid the need go to court over such issues, the question is still one of great importance on occasion.  For example, taxing statutes often rely on the value of “land” to calculate taxes.  If the land includes valuable equipment, the taxes payable will be far greater.

Just such a case recently came before the BC Court of Appeal.  It involved machinery and equipment installed at a pulp mill.  The pulp mill went into bankruptcy.  Subsequently, Zellstoff Celgar Ltd. purchased the assets of the pulp mill from the bankruptcy trustee.  The question was ‘what amount of property purchase tax was payable?’.

To read more, click here.

Share

About Us

Our Real Estate Law Blog provides brief commentary on current legal trends and developments affecting your business. The topics addressed in Lawson Lundell’s Real Estate Law Blog are of interest to commercial real estate developers, real estate and strata agents, investors, landlords and tenants, as well as a variety of industry groups. 

Legal Disclaimer: The information made available on this webpage is for information purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on as such. Please contact our firm if you need legal advice or have questions about the content of this webpage. 

Editors

Authors

Topics

Recent Posts

Archives

Blogs

Jump to Page