legal-terms common-law tenancy
Why is the term forfeiture used to describe the landlord&#39;s act of &quot;taking back&quot; a property?
<p>Forfeit generally denies relinquishment or loss, and yet it is the term used to describe the landlord's role in the dance as they resume possession of a place. What is behind this?</p>

<p>Forfeit can be used as a verb.  When the landlord &quot;takes steps to forfeit a lease&quot; it means that the landlord is causing the lease to be canceled, to be placed in forfeiture. It is the tenant who forfeits right in such a case, but the landlord who takes action. to say &quot;the landlord forfeits the lease&quot; is short for &quot;the landlord places the lease into forfeiture&quot;. Yes this usage can be confusing, but it is quite common.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forfeit" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Merriam-webster</a> gives as sense 2 of entry 2 for &quot;<em>Forfeit</em>&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>to subject to confiscation as a forfeit</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That is the sense being used here.</p>

<h2>Because the tenant has forfeited their rights</h2>
<p>It’s not a complicated term.</p>
