These are general explanations, not legal definitions for every jurisdiction. Consult the complete agreement and appropriate local guidance. Start with the agreement reading guide →
- Lease
- The agreement setting out the terms of occupying a property. Read the complete document and its attachments rather than assuming that the title alone establishes the arrangement or its legal effect.
- Lease term
- The period described by the agreement. Check the start, end, possession, renewal, and notice dates separately so that a single date does not stand in for the full timeline.
- Base rent
- The stated rent before separately identified charges. Ask which required recurring payments and utilities are additional, and compare the full cost for the exact unit and lease term.
- Security deposit
- Money held under the agreement in connection with specified obligations. Its treatment, permitted uses, limits, and return process depend on the contract and applicable law. Do not assume a refund amount or timing.
- Application fee
- A charge associated with applying for a rental. Ask what it covers and whether it is refundable. Whether a fee is allowed and what restrictions apply must be checked for the location and situation.
- Holding deposit
- A payment described as reserving a property while a decision or application proceeds. Clarify the written conditions, deadlines, refund arrangements, and whether it is credited toward another amount.
- Recurring fee
- A charge payable repeatedly, often alongside rent. Determine whether it is required or optional, what service it relates to, and whether it is already included elsewhere in a quoted total.
- Rent concession
- An incentive such as a credit or waived base-rent period. Read when the benefit is applied and what conditions attach to it. An advertised average may differ from the actual monthly payment schedule.
- Net effective rent
- A comparison figure that averages specified rent incentives across a period. Ask how it was calculated and which charges it excludes. It is not necessarily the amount due in each month.
- Prorated rent
- Rent calculated for part of a payment period. Confirm the calculation method, covered dates, due date, and how it connects with the next full payment rather than assuming a universal formula.
- Addendum
- An additional document made part of an agreement. Check its subject, version, parties, and relationship to the main lease. Read referenced attachments before accepting the complete arrangement.
- House rules
- Written expectations for using the property or shared spaces. Review the rules relevant to guests, noise, parking, facilities, pets, and everyday activities, and ask how any changes are handled.
- Renewal
- The process for continuing the rental arrangement beyond the initial term. Confirm the procedure, proposed terms, required notice, and which documents must be accepted rather than assuming automatic continuation.
- Notice to vacate
- A communication that a tenancy or occupancy is intended to end. Requirements concerning timing, delivery, content, and legal effect vary. Get local advice when a notice or deadline affects your rights.
- Early termination
- Ending an agreement before the expected end of its term. Ask about the applicable process and consequences, while recognizing that contractual language and local law must be evaluated together.
- Subletting
- An arrangement involving another occupant’s use of all or part of rented space while an existing rental relationship may continue. Check the exact structure, permissions, responsibilities, and applicable rules before making a plan.
- Assignment
- A proposed transfer of contractual interests or responsibilities to another party. The effect, approvals, and continuing obligations depend on the documents and law. Do not assume it automatically releases an original signer.
- Guarantor
- A person or entity agreeing to support specified obligations under a guarantee. Read the scope, duration, and conditions in the actual documents. A casual promise to help is not a clear description of the legal commitment.
- Co-tenant
- A person sharing a tenancy arrangement with another. Check how each person is named and obligated under the lease. A private agreement to split costs should not be assumed to define the landlord-facing responsibility.
- Tenant screening
- The process used to assess a rental application, which may involve a screening report. Ask about the criteria, required documents, report provider, and the appropriate process for reviewing inaccurate information.
- Move-in condition report
- A dated record of the apartment and included items at handover. Follow the property’s process, describe existing issues clearly, and retain copies. Documentation is useful but does not by itself decide a later dispute.
- Utilities included
- A phrase indicating that some services are covered by the stated arrangement. Identify precisely which services, any limits or allocations, and which accounts or charges remain the resident’s responsibility.
- Amenity fee
- A charge associated with facilities or services. Ask whether it is mandatory, what it covers, whether usage requires additional payments, and how access or closures affect the arrangement.
- Reasonable accommodation
- A concept relevant to disability-related housing needs. Use the appropriate request process and qualified guidance for the particular situation. Do not treat ordinary preferences and accommodation requests as interchangeable.
- Assistance animal
- A term used in disability-related accommodation discussions. Identify the applicable legal framework and current guidance. Eligibility, documentation, fees, and the request process need situation-specific review rather than assumptions based on an ordinary pet policy.
For local help, see USAGov’s tenant-rights resource. For an introduction to the different laws involved in animal-related requests, consult the Department of Justice overview. These resources address different questions; neither substitutes for a review of your specific agreement.