Who is a tenant?

A tenant is a person who has the right to use and occupy rental property in accordance with a rental agreement or lease. The tenant is also referred to as the ‘lessee’ of rental property. The tenant may use and occupy the rental property as long as s/he complies with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of rent.

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Who is a landlord?

A landlord is the owner of piece of real property (also called ‘rental property’), who leases it to another person. The landlord is also referred to as the ‘lessor’ of rental property. The landlord lets a tenant use and occupy his/her rental property in exchange for the monthly payment of rent. While the specific landlord/tenant laws vary by state, in every case there are legal protections in place defining landlord rights and tenants rights.

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With the owner’s permission, I’ve lived in a trailer on his ranch property for over 25 years. Do I now own the land on which the trailer sits? What’s the law on squatter’s rights?

It depends. You might be able to acquire the land through what’s known as adverse possession if you meet several statutory requirements in your state. You may also try possession under a claim of right if there is reason to believe that you have a right to be there and claim the land’ perhaps because you were watching over the property for the owner, who said that if you look out for the rest of the land, whatever land you are occupying will be yours. However, you should contact an attorney in your state who can explain what your state’s rules are and how they apply to your exact situation.

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Who is a subtenant?

A subtenant is a person who has the right to use and occupy rental property leased by a tenant from a landlord. A subtenant has responsibilities to both the landlord and the tenant. A tenant can sublet rental property to a subtenant, but often must obtain the prior consent of the landlord. The tenant still remains responsible for the payment of rent to the landlord and any damages to the property caused by the subtenant.

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