Legal Definitions - Quit

The term "Quit" generally refers to the act of stopping an activity, ceasing a practice, or leaving a place. In legal contexts, it carries specific meanings, particularly in landlord-tenant and employment law.

• In Landlord-Tenant Law: To "quit" means for a tenant to vacate or leave a rented property. A landlord might issue a notice to quit, which is a formal written document informing a tenant that they must leave the premises by a specific date. This notice is often a required legal step before a landlord can pursue an eviction lawsuit if the tenant does not leave voluntarily.

  • Example 1 (Tenant Vacating Property): After their lease expired, a family decided to purchase a new home. They informed their landlord that they would "quit" the apartment by the end of the month, meaning they would move out and return possession of the property.

    Explanation: This illustrates the tenant's act of leaving the rented property, which is the core meaning of "quit" in this context.

  • Example 2 (Landlord Issuing Notice): A landlord discovered that their tenant had been operating an unauthorized business from the rented garage, violating the terms of the lease agreement. The landlord then served the tenant with a 30-day "notice to quit," formally demanding that the tenant vacate the property within that timeframe.

    Explanation: This demonstrates the landlord's use of a legal "notice to quit" to initiate the process of reclaiming their property due to a lease violation, highlighting the formal procedure involved.

• In Employment Law: To "quit" means for an employee to voluntarily terminate their employment with a company. This is distinct from being fired by the employer or leaving due to circumstances like death, disability, or retirement.

  • Example 3 (Employee Resignation): After accepting a position with a competing firm, a marketing manager submitted a letter to their current employer stating their intention to "quit" their job in two weeks.

    Explanation: This shows an employee voluntarily ending their employment, which is the specific meaning of "quit" in an employment context.