Trade fixture is something attached to property rented by the lessee which they are entitled to take with them after the lease ends. Trade fixtures can be many things such as a machine or shelves which require the object to be fastened to the building. Often disputes will arise surrounding trade fixtures in commercial real estate when a tenant makes many improvements on a building and the lease does not make clear who gets to keep what items. For example, if a tenant replaces something essential like windows, it is most likely that the owner of the property will keep the windows, but if the tenant replaced a ceiling light with a chandelier, it may be less clear whether the light is something the tenant may take with them or a part of the building.
[Last updated in September of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]