Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of presentation

The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) have been omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Trust, its corporate subsidiaries, and all entities in which the Trust has a controlling interest or has been determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The equity interests of other investors are reflected as noncontrolling interests or redeemable noncontrolling interests. All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. We account for our interests in joint ventures, which we do not control, using the equity method of accounting.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, referred to as “GAAP,” requires management to make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and revenues and expenses. These estimates are prepared using management’s best judgment, after considering past, current and expected events and economic conditions. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Our leases with our tenants are classified as operating leases. When collection of substantially all lease payments during the lease term is considered probable, the lease qualifies for accrual accounting. Lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis from the point in time when the tenant controls the space through the term of the related lease. Variable lease payments relating to percentage rent are recognized at the end of the lease year or earlier if we have determined the required sales level is achieved. Real estate tax and other cost reimbursements are recognized on an accrual basis over the periods in which the related

expenditures are incurred. For a tenant to terminate its lease agreement prior to the end of the agreed term, we may require that they pay a fee to cancel the lease agreement. Lease termination fees are generally recognized on the termination date if the tenant has relinquished control of the space. When a lease is terminated early but the tenant continues to control the space under a modified lease agreement, the lease termination fee is generally recognized evenly over the remaining term of the modified lease agreement. Lease concessions (unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic) are evaluated to determine whether the concession represents a modification of the original lease contract. Modifications generally result in a reassessment of the lease term and lease classification, and remeasurement of lease payments received. Remeasured lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the modified lease contract.

In April 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued interpretive guidance relating to the accounting for lease concessions provided as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that allows entities to treat the concession as if it was a part of the existing contract instead of applying lease modification accounting. This guidance is only applicable to the COVID-19 pandemic related lease concessions that do not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee. We have elected this option relating to qualifying rent deferral and rent abatement agreements. For qualifying lease modifications with rent deferrals, this results in no change to our revenue recognition but an increase in the lease receivable balance until the deferred rent has been repaid. For qualifying lease modifications that include rent abatement concessions, this results in a direct reduction of rental income in the current period. As of June 30, 2020, we have entered into rent deferral agreements related to the COVID-19 pandemic representing approximately $16 million of rent otherwise owed during the months of April through June 2020, and are currently in negotiations with other tenants. 

When collection of substantially all lease payments during the lease term is not considered probable, total lease revenue is limited to the lesser of revenue recognized under accrual accounting or cash received. Determining the probability of collection of substantially all lease payments during a lease term requires significant judgment. This determination is impacted by numerous factors including our assessment of the tenant’s credit worthiness, economic conditions, tenant sales productivity in that location, historical experience with the tenant and tenants operating in the same industry, future prospects for the tenant and the industry in which it operates, and the length of the lease term. If leases currently classified as probable are subsequently reclassified as not probable, any outstanding lease receivables (including straight-line rent receivables) would be written-off with a corresponding decrease in rental income.

The actions taken by federal, state and local governments to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, initially by ordering closures of non-essential businesses and ordering residents to generally stay at home, and subsequent phased re-openings have resulted in many of our tenants temporarily or even permanently closing their businesses, and for some, it had impacted their ability to pay rent. As a result, we revised our collectibility assumptions for many of our tenants most significantly impacted by COVID-19. Accordingly, during the three months ended June 30, 2020, we recognized collectibility related adjustments of $55.2 million. This includes changes in our collectibility assessments from probable to not probable, disputed rents, and any rent abatements, as well as the write-off of $9.4 million of straight-line rent receivables primarily related to tenants changed to a cash basis of revenue recognition in the quarter ended June 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2020, the revenue from approximately 32% of our tenants (based on total commercial leases) is being recognized on a cash basis. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our straight-line rent receivables balance was $100.7 million and $100.3 million, respectively, and is included in "accounts and notes receivable, net" on our consolidated balance sheet.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Standard	Description	Effect on the financial statements or significant matters
Adopted on January 1, 2020:
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) and related updates: ASU 2016-13, June   2016, Financial   Instruments - Credit   Losses (Topic 326) ASU 2018-19,   November 2018,   Codification improvements to   Topic 326,   Financial   Instruments - Credit   Losses	This ASU changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, requiring the use of an "expected credit loss" model and adding more disclosure requirements. ASU 2018-19 clarifies that impairment of of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases.	Upon adoption of this standard, we recorded expected losses of $0.5 million in opening accumulated dividends in excess of net income. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we recorded additional expected losses of $0.4 million, which are included in rental expenses.
ASU 2018-15, August 2018, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Internal Use Software: Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract	This ASU requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement (i.e. hosting arrangement) that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance in ASC 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets. Capitalized implementation costs related to a hosting arrangement that is a service contract will be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement. Entities will expense costs during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages as they are incurred. The guidance can be applied prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively in accordance with ASC 250-10-45-5 through ASC 250-10-45-10.	The adoption of this standard does not have a significant impact to our consolidated financial statements.
Issued in 2020:
ASU 2020-04, March 2020, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)	This ASU provides companies with optional practical expedients to ease the accounting burden for contract modifications associated with transitioning away from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates that are expected to be discontinued as part of reference rate reform. For hedges, the guidance generally allows changes to the reference rate and other critical terms without having to de-designate the hedging relationship, as well as allows the shortcut method to continue to be applied. For contract modifications, changes in the reference rate or other critical terms will be treated as a continuation of the prior contract. This guidance can be applied immediately, however, is generally only available through December 31, 2022.	We are still evaluating the impact of reference rate reform and whether we will apply any of these practical expedients.