In practice
'Landlord and tenant' is the everyday language for residential lettings, while lessor and lessee tend to appear in formal documents, leasehold conveyancing and commercial leases.
Chains
In a headlease arrangement, the headlease holder is lessee to the freeholder and lessor to their subtenant at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lessor the same as the landlord?
In a residential tenancy, yes, the lessor is the landlord and the lessee is the tenant.
Can someone be both lessor and lessee?
Yes. A leaseholder who sublets is lessee under their own lease and lessor of the sublease.
Related terms
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