Answer cluster
Renter terms, in plain language
These are working definitions for reading a notice, a lease, or a court paper. They are not the legal meaning in a given state. Confirm the term in your chapter or with legal aid.
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What does “Answer” mean?
The written response a tenant files in court after an eviction case is served. Most courts set a deadline for it, and missing that deadline commonly leads to a default judgment. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Assignment” mean?
Transferring the whole remaining lease to someone else, so they take the tenant's place. Different from a sublet, and usually requires the landlord's permission. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Cash for keys” mean?
An offer of money in exchange for moving out voluntarily and giving up possession. It is a contract; what it gives up depends on how it is written. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Code enforcement” mean?
The city or county office that inspects buildings against the local housing code and can issue notices to a property owner. A free route that runs independently of court. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Constructive eviction” mean?
A legal concept in some states where conditions become so bad that a tenant is treated as having been forced out. Whether it exists and what it requires is state-specific. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Cure” mean?
Fixing the problem a notice complains about — paying what is claimed, removing a pet, ending a violation. Some notices allow a cure period; some do not. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Default judgment” mean?
A judgment entered because one side did not respond or appear. In eviction cases this usually means the tenant loses without being heard. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Dispossessory” mean?
The name for an eviction proceeding in some states, including Georgia. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Escrow” mean?
Paying rent to a third party or the court rather than the landlord, under a process some states provide when repairs are not made. Where it exists it has strict conditions. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Fair housing” mean?
The body of law prohibiting housing discrimination. Federal law covers a set of protected classes; states and cities frequently add more. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Forcible entry and detainer (FED)” mean?
The name for an eviction case in some states, including Oregon and Colorado. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Habitability, implied warranty of” mean?
The duty recognized in most states for a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in. What it covers comes from state law and local housing code. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Holdover” mean?
Staying past the end of a tenancy. How it is treated — and what it converts the tenancy into — is set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Itemized statement” mean?
A written list of what was deducted from a security deposit and why. Most states require one, on a timeline set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Joint and several liability” mean?
A lease term making each co-tenant responsible for the whole rent, not just their share. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Just cause” mean?
A requirement, usually local, that a landlord state an allowed reason to end a tenancy. Where it exists, the list of allowed reasons is set by the ordinance. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Legal aid” mean?
Nonprofit organizations providing free civil legal help to people who qualify. Housing is one of their largest practice areas. Find yours through LawHelp.org. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Lodger” mean?
Someone renting a room, often in an owner-occupied home, sometimes under narrower rules than a tenant. The distinction is state-specific and matters a great deal. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Lockout” mean?
A landlord excluding a tenant by changing locks, removing doors, or removing belongings. Handled separately from the court eviction process in most states, and treated urgently. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Month-to-month tenancy” mean?
A tenancy that renews each period rather than running for a fixed term. Rules for changing rent or ending it are set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Notice to quit” mean?
A written notice that a landlord wants the tenancy to end. Names differ by state; so do required contents and periods. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Ordinary wear and tear” mean?
Deterioration from normal use, which generally cannot be charged against a deposit. Where the line falls between wear and damage is state- and fact-specific. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Pro se” mean?
Appearing in court without a lawyer. Common in eviction and small-claims cases; court self-help centers exist partly for this. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerWhat does “Protected class” mean?
A characteristic that discrimination law covers. The federal list is a floor; states and cities frequently add categories such as source of income. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answer
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Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org