WHO’S WHO?? Tenant, Guest or Occupant?

There is a difference between a tenant, an occupant and a guest in a rental.  A tenant, also called a lessee, signs a binding contract containing obligations under the lease. The lease agreement is between the landlord and tenant only.  Occupants are authorized to reside in the property with the landlord’s permission, but they do not have financial responsibility for the lease, nor are they entitled to tenant’s rights that might be afforded under the law.  Any violation of the lease, whether by the tenant, an occupant or a guest, must be addressed with the tenant.  A guest is a temporary occupant of the rental and has another residential address.  If the landlord allows the guest to pay rent or submit repair requests, the case could be made that the guest has status as a tenant legally.

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Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.