What happens if there is a default under the lease or franchise agreement with Chem Dry?
Chem_Dry Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
of them may suffer, sustain or incur by reason of, or arising out of, Franchisee's breach of any of the terms of the Lease, including the failure to pay rent or any other terms and conditions of the Lease.
-
- Conditional Assignment: Franchisee hereby grants to the Franchisor a security interest in and to the Lease, all of the furniture, fixtures, inventory, equipment, and supplies located in the Site and the franchise relating to the Franchised Business, and all of the Franchisee's rights, title and interest in and to the Lease as conditional for the payment of any obligation, liability or other amount owed by the Franchisee or its affiliates to the Lessor arising under the Lease and for any default or breach of any of the terms and provisions of the Lease, and for any default or breach of any of the terms and provisions of the Franchise Agreement. In the event of a breach or default by Franchisee under the terms of the Lease, or, in the event Franchisor makes any payment to the Lessor as a result of the Franchisee's breach of the Lease, then such payment by the Franchisor, or such breach or default by the Franchisee, shall at Franchisor's option be deemed to be an immediate default under the Franchise Agreement, and the Franchisor shall be
entitled to the possession of the Site and to all of the rights, title and interest of the Franchisee in and to the Lease and to all other remedies described herein or in the Franchise Agreement or at law or in equity, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of the Franchisor under any other agreements or under other applicable laws or equities. This Assignment shall constitute a lien on the interest of the Franchisee in and to the Lease until satisfaction in full of all amounts owed by the Franchisee to the Franchisor. In addition, the rights of the Franchisor to assume all obligations under the Lease provided in this Assignment are totally optional on the part of the Franchisor, to be exercised in its sole discretion. Franchisee agrees to execute any and all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and all other documents and instruments deemed necessary by Franchisor to perfect or document the interests and assignments granted herein.
-
- No Subordination: Franchisee shall not permit the Lease to become subordinate to any lien without first obtaining Franchisor's written consent, other than the lien created by this Assignment, the Franchise Agreement, the Lessor's lien under the Lease, liens securing bank financing for the operations of Franchisee on the Site and the agreements and other instruments referenced herein. The Franchisee will not terminate, modify or amend any of the provisions or terms of the Lease without the prior written consent of the Franchisor. Any attempt at termination, modification or amendment of any of the terms of the Lease without such written consent is null and void.
-
- Exercise of Remedies: In any case of default by the Franchisee under the terms of the Lease or under the Franchise Agreement, Franchisor shall be entitled to exercise any one or more of the following remedies in its sole discretion:
- a) to take possession of the Site, or any part thereof, personally, or by its agents or attorneys;
- b) to, in its discretion, without notice and with or without process of law, enter upon and take and maintain possession of all or any part of the Site, together with all furniture, fixtures, inventory, books, records, papers and accounts of the Franchisee;
- c) to exclude the Franchisee, its agents or employees from the Site;
- d) as attorney-in-fact for the Franchisee, or in its own name, and under the powers herein granted, to hold, operate, manage and control the Franchised Business and conduct the business, if any, thereof, either personally or by its agents, with full power to use such measures, legally rectifiable, as in its discretion may be deemed proper or necessary to cure such default, including actions of forcible entry or detainer and actions in distress of rent, hereby granting full power and authority to the Franchisor to exercise each and every of the rights, privileges and powers herein granted at any and all times hereafter;
- e) to cancel or terminate any unauthorized agreements or subleases entered into by the Franchisee, for any cause or ground which would entitle the Franchisor to cancel the same;
- f) to disaffirm any unauthorized agreement, sublease or subordinated lien, to make all necessary or proper repairs, decorating, renewals, replacements, alterations, additions, betterments and improvements to the Site or the Site that may seem judicious, in the sole discretion of the Franchisor; and
- g) to insure and reinsure the same for all risks incidental to the Franchisor's possession, operation and management thereof; and/or
h) notwithstanding any provision of the Franchise Agreement to the contrary, to declare all of the Franchisee's rights but not obligations under the Franchise Agreement to be immediately terminated as of the date of Franchisee defaults under the Lease and fails to cure said default within the applicable cure period (if any).
The parties agree and acknowledge that Franchisor is not required to assume the Lease, take possession of the Site or otherwise exercise of its other rights described in this Assignment.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 68)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Chem Dry's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee defaults under the terms of their lease or the Franchise Agreement, Chem Dry has several options. Chem Dry can take possession of the site, either personally or through agents or attorneys. They can enter and maintain possession of the site, including all furniture, fixtures, inventory, books, records, papers, and accounts of the franchisee. Chem Dry can also exclude the franchisee, its agents, or employees from the site.
Additionally, Chem Dry, acting as the franchisee's attorney-in-fact, can operate and manage the franchised business, taking necessary actions to cure the default. This includes actions of forcible entry or detainer and actions in distress of rent. Chem Dry can also cancel or terminate any unauthorized agreements or subleases entered into by the franchisee, and disaffirm any unauthorized agreement, sublease, or subordinated lien. Chem Dry has the power to make necessary repairs, decorating, renewals, replacements, alterations, additions, betterments, and improvements to the site, and insure and reinsure the site for all risks incidental to their possession, operation, and management.
Furthermore, Chem Dry can declare all of the franchisee's rights (but not obligations) under the Franchise Agreement to be immediately terminated if the franchisee defaults under the lease and fails to cure the default within the applicable cure period. Chem Dry's exercise of these rights does not cure, waive, or affect any default under the Franchise Agreement. Chem Dry is not obligated to exercise any of these rights but has the irrevocable right to do so. This assignment of rights governs over any conflicting provisions in the lease. In any legal dispute related to this assignment, the prevailing party is entitled to recover attorney's fees, costs, and expenses from the non-prevailing party.
In Virginia, it is unlawful for a franchisor to cancel a franchise without reasonable cause. If any ground for default or termination stated in the franchise agreement does not constitute "reasonable cause" under Virginia law, that provision may not be enforceable. Therefore, franchisees in Virginia may have additional protections against termination without reasonable cause.