rent-free

Beginner 🏠 Real Estate

Definition

Living or occupying space without paying rent, either through arrangement, squatting, or as a benefit. In modern slang, it's also when someone or something occupies your thoughts constantly without deserving the mental real estate—like that embarrassing thing you said in 2015. The literal version is much less psychologically damaging.

Example Usage

As part of the property management agreement, the caretaker lived rent-free in the estate's guest house.

Source: Real estate and colloquial terminology