Landlord / Tenant refers to the relationship between (1) the owner or lessor (landlord) of residential or commercial real property known as the leased premises and (2) the occupant or lessee (the tenant) of the leased premises—often a home or office building or space. This relationship is defined by the (usually written) lease agreement signed by the landlord and tenant, and the laws governing the landlord / tenant relationship—which are usually located in a state’s statutes.

A residential or commercial lease of real property (real estate) allows the tenant or lessee to use the property and the improvements on the property—generally a building structure such as a home, office, store, or warehouse, for example—for a stated purpose (such as for a residential dwelling or the operation of a hair salon) and for a fixed period of time (the term of the lease), in exchange for the payment of rent.

Personal property—including automobiles, computers, heavy equipment, machines, home appliances, and other tangible, movable goods—may also be leased, but the parties to a lease of personal property (as opposed to real property) are not referred to as landlord and tenant, but as lessor and lessee.

In Iowa, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by both the lease agreement and state statutes, specifically the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Iowa Code Chapter 562A) for residential leases, and Iowa Code Chapter 562B for mobile home parks. These laws outline the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. For example, landlords must provide habitable premises, make necessary repairs, and respect tenants' privacy, while tenants are required to pay rent on time, maintain the property, and abide by the terms of the lease. The lease agreement itself should specify the purpose of the lease, the term, the amount of rent, and other conditions agreed upon by both parties. Commercial leases are less regulated by state statutes and are largely governed by the lease agreement itself, but they must still comply with applicable zoning laws and other regulations. It's important to note that leases for personal property, such as vehicles or equipment, are subject to different regulations and the parties are referred to as lessor and lessee, not landlord and tenant.