Making Sense of Your Lease

Renters Insurance Coverage

Reading over a lease can be nerve racking. You have to scrutinize every clause in order to make sure you will be comfortable in your apartment, but how can you do that when it seems like it's written in another language?! According to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Office of Residential Services, leases are written in another language... or at least a language of another century. "Leases were developed in medieval Britain and some of the language used in them dates from that time, much to the confusion and mystification of modern tenants."In order to make leases easier to understand, WPI redefined many of the potentially confusing terms.ARREARS: Overdue rentASSIGN: Transfer the unexpired portion of a lease to a new tenantCAUSE OF ACTION: Specific situation that may become the basis for a lawsuitCIVIL: A non-criminal legal matter. Housing disputes are generally handled in civil courtsCOVENANT: Promise.

Independent covenant: You must perform your obligation even if the other party does not. Dependent covenant: You carry out your obligation on the condition that the other party fulfills its obligationDEFAULT: To forfeit or lose by omission; to fail to perform a legal obligationDEMISED PREMISES: The place being rentedDETAINER: Withholding another's property against his or her willDISPOSSESS: Remove a person from land; the legal action brought for nonpayment of rentDISTRAINT (proceed by distress): The landlord takes your personal property to force you to pay or eventually sells it to get his or her moneyEJECTMENT: Physical or legal eviction from landEMURE: To take effectENJOYMENT: Possession or occupation of land. Quiet enjoyment: freedom from invasion of privacy by landlordEVICTION: Depriving a person of possession of occupancy. Constructive eviction: not actually removing a tenant but making it impossible for him or her to remain because of the conditions, such as serious deteriorationGOODS AND CHATTELS: Personal propertyINDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS: To free from any responsibility or liabilityINURE: Take effectLEASE: A type of legal agreement establishing a landlord-tenant relationshipLESSEE: TenantLESSOR: LandlordLIABILITY: Responsibility, loss; a negative elementNOTICE TO QUIT: Notification from the landlord to tenant ordering tenant off the property, usually after thirty days from the first day of the rental periodNOTICE TO VACATE: Notification from the tenant to the landlord stating the tenant's intention to leave the property, usually after thirty days from the first day of the rental periodPARTIES TO A LEASE: Those who agree to abide by the provisions of a lease; typically you as a tenant, any roommates, and the landlordPOSSESSION: Lawful occupation and use of the land, subject to protections of "quiet enjoyment"REPLEVIN: Legal action to recover property that was unlawfully seizedSUBLET: Agreeing to permit someone to use a rented property for a term less that the full term of the lease, and to be paid for that permissionSUMMARY PROCEEDING (to recover possession): Eviction. It is called "summary proceeding" because it is a swift and simple procedure for the landlordTENANT AT SUFFERANCE: A tenant who has remained in a unit after a lease or tenancy at will agreement has expired or was terminatedTENANT WITHOUT A LEASE: A tenant with the landlord's consent to occupy a premises without a leaseTENANT WITH A LEASE: A tenant with a contract that allows for a certain length of occupancy at a set rentTERM OF LEASE: The length of time that a lease shall be in effect; duration of obligationWAIVER: Relinquishment of a right, agreeing to give up something to which you are entitledWARRANTY OF HABITABILITY: Promise that the property is safe and usable for residential use.Hopefully these definitions will help you make it through the reading of your lease.

If you still feel like you don't understand the terms of your lease, don't feel like you can't ask questions. This is YOUR lease for YOUR apartment, so don't sign anything you don't completely understand.

Since 1989 dan the roommate man has helped 1000's of people find roommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

Related Pages

Rental Insurance - Why rental insurance is a smart buy - Discover how replacement cost often exceeds actual cash value, so check your renters policy.

Renters Insurance - Explanation of what renters insurance covers and how much you need - Tips on shopping for rental policy coverage online.

Facts About Renters Insurance - If you rent an apartment or a house, you need renters insurance - Protect your property and avoid liability for accidents.

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