Real Estate - Leases - The Lease

A lease is the document governing the rental of real estate.

The terms of a lease normally include a description of the real estate, the duration of the agreement, the rent, and the time of payment. A lease need not be in writing unless it is for a term greater than one year. If a lease is not in writing, it will probably be a periodic lease, which is one without a definite term. The period is generally determined by the frequency of the rental payments; for example: week to week, month to month, year to year.