Landlord / Tenant refers to the relationship between (1) the owner or lessor (landlord) of residential or commercial real property known as the leased premises and (2) the occupant or lessee (the tenant) of the leased premises—often a home or office building or space. This relationship is defined by the (usually written) lease agreement signed by the landlord and tenant, and the laws governing the landlord / tenant relationship—which are usually located in a state’s statutes.

A residential or commercial lease of real property (real estate) allows the tenant or lessee to use the property and the improvements on the property—generally a building structure such as a home, office, store, or warehouse, for example—for a stated purpose (such as for a residential dwelling or the operation of a hair salon) and for a fixed period of time (the term of the lease), in exchange for the payment of rent.

Personal property—including automobiles, computers, heavy equipment, machines, home appliances, and other tangible, movable goods—may also be leased, but the parties to a lease of personal property (as opposed to real property) are not referred to as landlord and tenant, but as lessor and lessee.

In Delaware, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by the Delaware Residential Landlord-Tenant Code for residential properties, and by common law and specific lease agreements for commercial properties. The Code outlines the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in residential leases, including the handling of security deposits, notice periods for lease termination, and the process for addressing repairs and maintenance. Landlords must ensure that residential properties meet basic habitability standards, and tenants are required to maintain the property and pay rent as agreed in the lease. For commercial leases, the terms are largely dictated by the lease agreement itself, although certain state laws and regulations may still apply, particularly regarding health and safety standards. Both residential and commercial leases typically specify the purpose of the leased property, the term of the lease, and the rent amount. It's important to note that leases for personal property are subject to different regulations and are not covered under the same landlord-tenant laws as real property.