Landlord's lien
At common law, a landlord's right to take personal property left behind by a former tenant and sell it to cover unpaid debts owed under the lease. This common law right no longer exists in most U.S. states, but may be replaced by statutes designed to have similar effect.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
The right of a landlord to seize and sell personal property belonging to tenants, to cover unpaid rent or damages to the property. Few states still allow landlord liens, and of those that do, the process is extremely complicated, requiring written notice to the tenant, exclusion of property that is needed for basic living, and a public sale.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:18 pm
