Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

Who is referred to as the tenant in a lease agreement?

1. Lessor

2. Dominant Tenement

3. Lessee

4. Servient Tenement

The correct answer is: Lessee

In a lease agreement, the term "tenant" refers to the lessee, who is the individual or entity that receives the right to use and occupy the property from the lessor, who is the landlord or property owner. The lessee pays rent to the lessor in exchange for this right. Understanding this terminology is fundamental in the context of real estate and property management. The lessee has the right to use the property according to the terms of the lease, which may include stipulations about duration, permitted uses, and responsibilities for maintenance and payment of utilities among other details. This role contrasts with the lessor, who maintains ownership of the property and grants the tenancy. The other terms, such as dominant and servient tenement, are related to property rights but are not applicable in the context of lease agreements. The dominant tenement refers to a property that benefits from an easement over another property, known as the servient tenement, which is burdened by that easement. These concepts are related to property rights and easement relationships rather than tenant-landlord relationships in leases.