holdover tenant

Definition

A tenant who remains in possession of property after their lease expires without the landlord's permission. The houseguest who won't leave, except they're paying (or supposed to be paying) rent.

Example Usage

He became a holdover tenant after his lease ended, and now she must file for eviction to remove him legally.

Origin

Common law landlord-tenant relationship terminology

Fun Fact

In many states, accepting rent from a holdover tenant can inadvertently create a new month-to-month tenancy, making eviction more complicated.

Source: Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Related Terms

Advanced

CAM charges

Common Area Maintenance charges—fees in commercial leases where tenants reimburse landlords for shared expenses like landscaping, snow removal, and parking lot maintenance. It's how landlords outsource their property bills to the people renting from them.

🏠 Real Estate

Intermediate

non-conforming use

When your property legally violates current zoning laws because it was built before those laws existed, making it technically illegal but protected by grandfather rights. It's your commercial building in a residential zone that everyone tolerates until you try to expand.

🏠 Real Estate

Advanced

seller carry

When a property seller provides financing to the buyer, essentially acting as the bank and holding a note secured by the property. It's the real estate version of 'I'll spot you until payday'—except with six-figure stakes and actual paperwork.

🏠 Real Estate

Advanced

usable square footage

The actual floor space a tenant can occupy, excluding common areas like lobbies and hallways. In commercial leases, this differs from rentable square footage through a multiplier that ensures you pay for space you can't actually use.

🏠 Real Estate

Intermediate

setback requirements

Zoning rules dictating the minimum distance a building must sit from property lines, streets, or other structures, preventing neighbors from building right up to your fence line. It's mandatory personal space for properties.

🏠 Real Estate

Beginner

HOA fees

Monthly payments to a committee of bored neighbors who fine you for parking your own car in your own driveway. It's the subscription service nobody wanted, covering 'amenities' like a pool you never use and landscaping you could do yourself.

🏠 Real Estate

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