BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (8TH ED. 2004)
“Lease”:
A contract by which a rightful possessor of real property conveys the right to use and occupy the property in exchange for consideration, usu[ally denominated] rent.
Such a conveyance plus all covenants attached to it.
“Landlord-Tenant Relationship”:
•The familiar legal relationship existing between the lessor and lessee of real estate.
•The relationship is contractual, created by a lease … for a term of years, from year to year, for life, or at will, and exists when one person occupies the premises of another with the lessor’s permission or consent, subordinated to the lessor’s title or rights.
•There must be a landlord’s reversion, a tenant’s estate, transfer of possession and control of the premises, and (generally) an express or implied contract.