A person signs a lease, pays rent, and takes possession of an apartment or office. That person is the tenant. Tenants hold a temporary right to occupy property owned by someone else.

Rights typically include quiet enjoyment and a habitable dwelling. Obligations include timely rent, care of the premises, and compliance with lease terms. Tenants may be individuals or businesses. Subtenants and assignees appear when the original tenant transfers some or all rights with permission.

Strong tenant screening reduces problems for landlords; clear communication reduces conflict for both sides. At the end of the tenancy the tenant must return the property in appropriate condition and may recover the security deposit. The landlord-tenant relationship is one of the most common legal relationships in everyday life.

• Person or entity with temporary right to occupy
• Pays rent and follows lease terms
• Entitled to quiet enjoyment and habitability
• Must return the property at lease end