landlord and tenant

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Landlord and tenant refers to a special relationship between a lessor (landlord) and lessee (tenant). This relationship is more than just a lease, which is under contract law, because it is also under property law. The right to use the property, in this case a real estate, should be empowered even if it is not specified in the lease.

In a landlord and tenant relationship, the landlord only transfers the right to use and occupy the property, but the landlord must acknowledge the tenant reasonably if he or she wants to enter the property. The tenant must pay the rent for the lease. Failing to pay rent on time could lead to an eviction. See landlord-tenant law for more details.

[Last updated in July of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]