undertenant

An undertenant pays rent to the primary tenant of the apartment.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who rents property from a tenant: An "undertenant" is an individual who leases or occupies land, a building, or a portion thereof from a person who is already a tenant (the primary tenant), rather than directly from the landlord or owner.

Usage Examples

• (A person renting from a tenant without the owner's permission.)
• (A sub-renter who is subordinate to the main renter.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act as an undertenant": to occupy property as a sub-renter.

  • She acted as an undertenant for six months while the primary tenant was abroad. (She lived in the property by renting from the tenant, not the owner.)

• "undertenant relationship": the legal or practical arrangement between a primary tenant and a sub-renter.

  • The undertenant relationship is governed by the terms of the original lease. (The sub-rental agreement depends on the main rental contract.)

Variants and Related Words

• Subtenant (n): a synonym for undertenant; a person who rents from a tenant.

  • The subtenant paid rent directly to the main tenant. (The person renting from the tenant.)

• Sublease (n/v): a lease granted by a tenant to another person (the undertenant).

  • The tenant signed a sublease with the undertenant for the remainder of the year. (The rental agreement between tenant and sub-renter.)

Synonyms

• Subtenant: a person who rents property from a tenant.
• Sublessee: a person who holds a sublease; another term for undertenant.

Related Idioms

• To be a tenant's tenant: a colloquial way of referring to an undertenant.

  • He's not a direct tenant of the building; he's a tenant's tenant. (He is renting from a tenant, not the owner.)

• To sublet to someone: to allow a person to become an undertenant.

  • The tenant decided to sublet the spare room to an undertenant. (The tenant rented out part of the property to a sub-renter.)