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 Missouri, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by state statutes that outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties. These laws cover various aspects of the relationship, including the terms of the lease agreement, the payment of rent, the maintenance of the property, security deposits, and the procedures for addressing disputes and evictions. The lease agreement, which is typically in written form, specifies the duration of the lease, the amount of rent, the use of the property, and other conditions agreed upon by the landlord and tenant. Missouri law requires landlords to maintain the property in a habitable condition and to make necessary repairs, while tenants are obligated to pay rent on time and use the property in a responsible manner. The statutes also provide guidelines for the return of security deposits and the process for eviction should a tenant violate the terms of the lease or fail to pay rent. It's important to note that while the general principles of landlord-tenant law are similar for residential and commercial leases, there are specific regulations that may apply differently to each type of property. For personal property leases, the parties are indeed referred to as lessor and lessee, and while some principles of contract law are similar, the specific rights and obligations can differ from those of real property leases.