What is a tenant?
A tenant is someone who pays rent to live in a property (house, apartment, condominium, townhouse) that belongs to someone else.
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What is a landlord?
A landlord is the owner of the property that the tenant lives in.
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What is a property manager?
Sometimes, the owner of the property hires someone to oversee and manage their property for them.
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What is a lease?
A lease is a written agreement between you (the tenant) and the landlord, allowing you to live in the property in exchange for rent. For your protection, you should only enter into a written lease. The lease says what you are responsible for, and what the landlord is responsible for. Both you and the landlord sign the lease and you both must do what the lease says. Leases are often difficult to understand, even for native English speakers, so it is best to have someone you trust help you understand your lease, or contact an attorney to help you.
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What is rent?
This is the amount of money you will pay the landlord each month. Rent is paid in advance, meaning that rent is due at the beginning of the month, usually on the first of the month, for that month. Make sure you know where and how to pay the rent — online? By check? Cash? If you pay your rent in cash, always get a receipt as proof of your payment.
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What is the term of the lease?
This is the time period you and the landlord agree that you can live in the property, and you will pay rent. Most of the time the term is for one year, but it can be less or more if both you and the landlord agree. When this term is over, you and the landlord can sign a new lease—if you both agree—and start all over. Or, you can leave the property.
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What are the things the