Is it Time to Antiquate the Term “Landlord?”

Abstract

With the growth of community partnerships with housing providers to address social determinants of health, it may be time to rethink the term “landlord.” The term, landlord, may be antiquated as it originated from medieval Europe in the 9th century, denotes rank, is male, and may create further divisions between tenants and landlords. In the US, many average Americans rent their property; as data from the Internal Revenue Service and the Rental Housing Finance Survey indicate nearly 10 million Americans reported rental income in 2020 and most of them own only 1–2 rental units. This commentary argues that the term “landlord” is no longer relevant, may be counterproductive to building a culture of health across stakeholder groups, and should be replaced. Some alternative terms are suggested, including “lessor” or “rental host.” Accurate and neutral terms may be useful in engaging renters and property owners in addressing housing and homelessness issues in society.