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 Virginia, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) for residential leases, and by common law and specific lease agreements for commercial leases. The VRLTA outlines the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants, including provisions for security deposits, disclosure requirements, maintenance obligations, and procedures for eviction. Residential leases typically grant tenants the right to occupy a dwelling such as a house or apartment, while commercial leases pertain to properties used for business purposes, like offices or retail spaces. Both types of leases involve an agreement where the tenant pays rent for the use of the property for a specified term. For personal property leases, the terms 'lessor' and 'lessee' are used instead of 'landlord' and 'tenant', and these agreements are subject to the Virginia Uniform Commercial Code and other relevant laws, rather than the VRLTA.