Legal Definitions - firmarius

A firmarius is a legal term, originating from historical English law, that refers to an individual who possesses the right to collect rent or profits from land or property. Essentially, it describes someone who is legally entitled to receive income generated from an asset, often through a lease or similar agreement.

• Example 1: Residential Landlord

  Ms. Eleanor owns a small apartment building and rents out individual units to several tenants. Each month, she collects rent payments from these tenants according to their lease agreements.

  In this scenario, Ms. Eleanor acts as a firmarius because she is legally entitled to "take rent" from the occupants of her property. Her right to receive these payments stems from the lease agreements she has with her tenants, making her the beneficiary of the income generated by the property.

• Example 2: Agricultural Leaseholder

  A local farmer, Mr. Davies, enters into an agreement with a landowner to lease a large field for a growing season. Mr. Davies cultivates the land, harvests the crops, and sells them at market, retaining the money earned from the sales after covering his expenses.

  Mr. Davies would be considered a firmarius because, through his lease agreement, he is entitled to "take profits" generated directly from the use of the land. The income he earns from selling the harvested crops represents these profits, which he has a legal right to receive.

• Example 3: Commercial Sublessor

  A company holds a long-term master lease on a large commercial office space in a city center. The company then subdivides this space and subleases individual offices to several smaller businesses. The income the company receives from these subleases exceeds the amount it pays to the primary landlord.

  Here, the company functions as a firmarius. It is entitled to "take rent" from the subtenants for the use of the office spaces and also realizes "profits" from the difference between the total rent it collects and the rent it pays for the master lease. This demonstrates the right to both forms of income derived from the property.