Legal Definitions - landlord

A landlord is the owner of real property—such as a house, apartment building, office space, or undeveloped land—who grants another person or entity, known as a tenant, the right to occupy and use that property in exchange for rent. This arrangement is typically formalized through a lease agreement, which outlines the specific terms, conditions, and responsibilities of both parties.

The landlord retains legal ownership of the property but temporarily transfers the right of possession and use to the tenant. Landlords are generally responsible for maintaining the property's structural integrity and common areas, while tenants are expected to pay rent on time and adhere to the rules set forth in the lease.

• Example 1 (Residential Property): Maria owns a small house that she doesn't live in. She decides to rent it out to a family, the Garcias, for a year. Maria and the Garcias sign a lease agreement detailing the monthly rent, the duration of the tenancy, and responsibilities like who pays for utilities.

  How it illustrates the term: Maria is the landlord because she owns the house and has granted the Garcias (the tenants) the right to live there in exchange for rent. She retains ownership but has given them temporary possession and use of her property under a lease.

• Example 2 (Commercial Space): A company called "Tech Solutions Inc." needs office space for its employees. They find a suitable floor in a downtown office building owned by "Urban Properties LLC" and sign a five-year commercial lease.

  How it illustrates the term: Urban Properties LLC is the landlord. They own the commercial building and have leased a portion of it to Tech Solutions Inc. (the tenant) for their business operations. Urban Properties LLC is responsible for the building's overall maintenance, while Tech Solutions Inc. has the right to occupy and use their rented office space.

• Example 3 (Agricultural Land): Mr. Davies owns a large tract of farmland that he no longer actively farms himself. He enters into an agreement with a local farmer, Ms. Kim, allowing her to cultivate corn on 50 acres of his land for the upcoming growing season in exchange for a percentage of the harvest.

  How it illustrates the term: Mr. Davies is the landlord because he owns the agricultural land and has granted Ms. Kim (the tenant) the right to use it for farming purposes. He retains ownership of the land, while Ms. Kim has temporary possession and use for her agricultural activities.