Legal Definitions - DEM

DEM is an abbreviation for DEMISE.

In legal contexts, demise primarily refers to the transfer of an estate in property, most commonly the granting of a leasehold interest. When a property owner "demises" a property, they are transferring the right to possess and use that property to another party for a specified period, typically in exchange for rent. This act creates a landlord-tenant relationship and establishes the terms under which the property is occupied.

• Commercial Lease Agreement: A small bakery owner signs a document to rent a storefront in a busy shopping center for three years. The agreement explicitly states that the landlord "demises" the commercial premises to the bakery for the agreed term. This illustrates demise because the landlord is transferring the right to occupy and operate a business from that specific storefront to the bakery owner for a defined period under the terms of the lease.

• Residential Tenancy: A young professional signs a one-year lease agreement to live in a condominium unit. The lease document outlines that the property owner "demises" the condominium to the professional. Here, the owner is transferring the temporary right of possession and use of the condominium to the professional, establishing a tenancy for the duration of the lease agreement.

• Subleasing an Office Space: A tech startup, which holds a five-year lease on a large office floor, decides to sublease a portion of its unused space to a freelance graphic designer for six months. The agreement between the startup and the designer states that the startup "demises" a specific section of the office to the designer. This demonstrates demise because the startup, as the original tenant, is transferring a lesser interest (a sub-lease) in a part of the property to another party for a defined period.