leasing

estate for years

An estate for years is a leasehold interest that lasts for a fixed, definite period with a specific start and end date. The term can be any length, even less than one year, despite the name. Because the ending date is known in advance, no notice is required to terminate it; the lease simply expires. Sale of the property or death of either party generally does not end it.

Exam tip
Key identifier: a definite ending date. Compare with periodic tenancy (renews automatically, notice required) and tenancy at will (no fixed term).
Example
A tenant signs a lease running from June 1 to August 31. On August 31 the lease ends automatically without either party giving notice.

Related terms & state variants

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23