Instead, of relying on a lawyer who charges an arm and a leg to decode some of the legal clauses that are found in typical residential leases or rental agreements, it is important landlords and tenants alike, familiarize themselves with the definitions for a number of common words and phrases that arise in the context of the landlord-tenant relationship.

1. Lease is a written agreement between a landlord and tenant, and which grants the tenant exclusive use and occupation of his / her landlord’s residential property for a fixed period of time, in exchange for an agreed sum of money. It can also be called by its other name i.e. ‘rental agreement’.

2. It is important for a lease or rental agreement to give a full description of the rental property, and the description should include street address, city, state, and zip code. As well, it is a good idea to give built-up area measurements in square feet, including the means by which the square footage is measured.

3. Quiet Enjoyment means the implied right of a tenant to enjoy and use the property rented by him / her, without any obstruction, intrusion or interference from residents of the building, the landlord, or other individuals.

4. Renewal is one of the options a tenant has when his / her lease or rental agreement is terminating. It gives the tenant a choice of re-negotiating or renewing a rental lease or agreement, within a certain time frame.

5. Rent is the specified amount of money a tenant pays each month, in order to enjoy exclusive rights to a rental property. If, a residential lease or rental agreement has been signed, it should always state the amount of rent that is to be paid, the last date by which a tenant must make payment to avoid an eviction notice, including the mode of payment i.e. cheque, cash, or any other means.