Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Renting vs. Leasing

Very little, if any. The terms can and often are used interchangeably, even within the same paragraph of the same document.

To the extent there is a difference, 'lease' usually implies a longer-term deal, maybe six months to a year and up, whereas 'rent' is more likely to mean'month-to-month.'

An example of this is seen in the auto industry. You rent a car from Avis or Hertz when you're on a vacation or business trip. On the other hand, you might lease a new car instead of buy one.

You have to look well beyond the terms 'rent' or 'lease' in a typical real-estate hiring transaction to interpret it and to see what the respective rights and obligations of the parties are.