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 Nevada, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 118A for residential tenancies and NRS Chapter 118C for manufactured home parks, while commercial tenancies are less regulated by statute and more by the lease agreement itself. The relationship is typically formalized through a lease agreement, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the landlord (lessor) and the tenant (lessee). Residential leases allow tenants to use the property for living purposes, whereas commercial leases pertain to business use, such as offices or retail spaces. The lease specifies the duration, rent amount, and other terms under which the property is rented. Nevada law provides specific regulations regarding security deposits, lease terminations, evictions, habitability standards, and the handling of abandoned property. For example, landlords must provide habitable living conditions and are required to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. Tenants are obligated to maintain the property and pay rent as agreed. Disputes between landlords and tenants are typically resolved in summary eviction proceedings in Nevada's justice courts. It is important to note that leases of personal property, such as vehicles or equipment, are governed by different terms and are not considered landlord-tenant relationships under Nevada law.