Legal Definitions - inquilinus

In Roman law, an "inquilinus" refers to a person who leases or lives in another's house or apartment. This term specifically denotes an urban tenant.

In Roman law, an inquilinus referred to an individual who rented or resided in a dwelling owned by someone else. It specifically denoted a tenant, particularly one living in an urban area.

• Example 1: Urban Apartment Dweller
  Imagine a young Roman citizen named Lucius, who has recently moved to the bustling city of Rome to pursue a career. He rents a small, multi-room apartment on the third floor of an insula (a Roman apartment building) from its owner, Decimus, agreeing to pay a monthly sum.

  Explanation: Lucius is an inquilinus because he is leasing and residing in a dwelling (the apartment) that belongs to someone else (Decimus) within an urban environment, making him a tenant.

• Example 2: Family Renting a House
  Consider the family of Cornelia, who have relocated to a different Roman city for her husband's new government post. They rent a modest, standalone house with a small garden from a local landowner, Gaius, agreeing to pay a monthly sum for its use.

  Explanation: Cornelia and her family are inquilini because they are occupying and paying for the use of Gaius's house, making them tenants of his property.

• Example 3: Scholar Renting a Room
  A scholar named Titus, visiting Rome for an extended period to study ancient texts, arranges to rent a single room within a larger private house owned by a widow, Livia. He pays Livia a regular fee for his lodging and use of the room.

  Explanation: Titus is an inquilinus because he is living in a part of Livia's dwelling, paying for the right to reside there, thus functioning as a tenant or lodger in her property.