Definition
A legal claim against a tenant's personal property for unpaid rent, giving landlords leverage beyond strongly worded emails. The grown-up version of keeping your roommate's stuff hostage.
Example Usage
When the tenant skipped town owing three months rent, the landlord filed a landlord lien against their abandoned furniture, which was worth approximately $47.
Origin
Common law right codified in state statutes governing landlord-tenant relationships
Fun Fact
Landlord liens sound powerful but are rarely worth pursuing since tenant personal property is usually worth less than the legal costs of enforcement.
Source: Landlord-tenant law terminology
Related Terms
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See “landlord lien” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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