Tenant Rights Glossary
Legal jargon shouldn't stand between you and your rights. Our glossary explains common landlord-tenant law terms in simple language every renter can understand.
A security deposit is a sum of money paid by a tenant to a landlord at the beginning of a tenancy. It serves as financia...
Learn moreA late fee is a charge imposed by a landlord when a tenant fails to pay rent by the due date. These fees are meant to co...
Learn moreEviction is the legal process by which a landlord removes a tenant from a rental property. It must follow specific legal...
Learn moreNormal wear and tear refers to the natural and gradual deterioration of a rental property that occurs through ordinary, ...
Learn moreA lease agreement (or rental agreement) is a legally binding contract between a landlord and tenant that outlines the te...
Learn moreLandlord entry rights refer to when and how a landlord can legally enter a tenant's rental unit. While landlords own the...
Learn moreAn application fee is a charge a landlord collects when you apply to rent a unit, typically to cover...
Abandonment is when a tenant is treated as having permanently moved out and given up the rental befo...
An automatic renewal clause causes your lease to renew for a new term on its own unless you give not...
An assignment of lease is when you transfer your entire lease to a new tenant, who then takes over y...
Constructive eviction occurs when a landlord's failure to maintain the property (or other serious br...
A certificate of occupancy is an official document from a local government confirming that a buildin...
A co-signer (or guarantor) is someone who agrees to be legally responsible for the rent and other le...
Eviction is the legal process by which a landlord removes a tenant from a rental property. It must f...
An escrow account (or trust account) is a separate bank account where landlords or property managers...
An early termination fee is a set charge you agree to pay if you end a fixed-term lease before it ex...
An estoppel certificate is a signed statement in which a tenant confirms the key facts of their leas...
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides therapeutic benefit to a person with a ...
Eviction record sealing is a legal process that hides an eviction case from public view, so it does ...
An eviction moratorium is a temporary government ban that pauses certain types of evictions for a li...
A late fee is a charge imposed by a landlord when a tenant fails to pay rent by the due date. These ...
A lease agreement (or rental agreement) is a legally binding contract between a landlord and tenant ...
Landlord entry rights refer to when and how a landlord can legally enter a tenant's rental unit. Whi...
Lease renewal is the process of continuing a tenancy after the initial lease term ends. It may invol...
Breaking a lease means ending the rental agreement before the fixed term ends. Tenants who break a l...
Lease compliance means adhering to the terms of the rental agreement—by the tenant (paying rent on t...
Last month's rent is a payment you make at the start of a tenancy that is applied specifically to th...
Liquidated damages are a fixed amount of money written into a lease that you agree to pay if you bre...
A lease addendum is a separate document that adds to or changes the terms of your existing lease, su...
A lease violation is any act that breaks a term of your rental agreement, whether by the tenant or t...
Lead paint disclosure is a federal requirement for housing built before 1978, when lead-based paint ...
A month-to-month tenancy is a rental arrangement that continues for successive one-month periods wit...
A move-in inspection is a walkthrough of the rental unit at or before move-in to document its condit...
A military clause allows a servicemember to end a lease early without the usual penalties when milit...
A move-out inspection is a walkthrough that documents the condition of a rental when a tenant leaves...
Mold disclosure is a landlord's obligation, required in some states, to tell prospective tenants abo...
Normal wear and tear refers to the natural and gradual deterioration of a rental property that occur...
A notice to quit is a formal written notice from a landlord telling a tenant that the tenancy will e...
A nonrefundable fee is money you pay a landlord that you will not get back, regardless of the condit...
A notice to vacate is a written statement that a tenancy is ending and the rental must be returned b...
A pet deposit is money a landlord requires in addition to the security deposit when a tenant has a p...
A property inspection is when a landlord or agent enters the rental unit to assess its condition, en...
Prorated rent is a partial rent payment that covers only the days you actually occupy a unit during ...
Pet rent is a recurring monthly charge added to your rent for keeping a pet in the unit. Unlike a on...
A pay or quit notice is a written warning from a landlord telling a tenant to pay overdue rent withi...
Proof of income is the documentation a landlord uses to confirm you earn enough to afford the rent, ...
A rent increase is when a landlord raises the monthly rent amount for a rental property. The legalit...
Retaliation occurs when a landlord takes adverse action against a tenant because the tenant exercise...
Rent control (or rent stabilization) refers to laws that limit how much landlords can increase rent,...
Repair and deduct is a remedy that lets a tenant pay to fix a qualifying problem in the rental and s...
Rent withholding is when a tenant legally holds back some or all rent because the landlord has faile...
Renters insurance is a policy that protects a tenant's personal belongings and provides liability co...
A roommate agreement is a written understanding between people sharing a rental that covers how rent...
A reasonable accommodation is a change to a landlord's rules, policies, or services so a tenant with...
The right to cure is a tenant's opportunity to fix a lease problem, such as paying overdue rent or c...
Rent stabilization is a local regulatory program that limits how much rent can rise each year and us...
A security deposit is a sum of money paid by a tenant to a landlord at the beginning of a tenancy. I...
Subletting (or subleasing) occurs when a tenant temporarily rents all or part of their rental unit t...
Security deposit return is the process and legal obligation of the landlord to refund the tenant's s...
Security deposit interest is money some states and cities require landlords to pay tenants on the de...
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