Brookfield — Ch. 12 Art. XIII Residential Rental Registration § 12-702
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them: Dwelling unit means a room or group of rooms located within a structure, forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. Lease means any written or oral agreement, whether denominated as a lease, rental agreement or otherwise, which grants a tenant the right to occupy a dwelling unit in exchange for payment of rent or other consideration, including a lease which includes an option for the tenant to purchase the dwelling unit and a lease whereby a purchaser occupies a dwelling unit while making installment payments toward eventual ownership. Managing agent means any person or entity designated by the owner to manage, operate or maintain a rental dwelling unit. Owner means any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other legal entity having a legal or equitable interest in a rental dwelling unit, including, but not limited to, titleholders, land contract vendees and lessors. Rental dwelling unit means a room or group of rooms intended to be rented or leased located within a structure, forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. Rental property means any residential structures or dwelling units intended to be rented or leased, including single-family detached structures. Tenant means any person who occupies a dwelling unit pursuant to a lease, rental agreement, land contract or lease with option to buy. Transfer of ownership shall include, but not be limited to, conveyance by warranty deed, quit claim deed, trustee's deed or any other instrument or legal mechanism effecting a transfer of title or beneficial ownership interest, in whole or in part, in the property. Transfer of ownership shall include the sale, transfer or a change in ownership, in whole or in part, or a change in officers or directors of the owner.
Section 12-702 of Brookfield's Ch. 12 Art. XIII establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the Residential Rental Registration article. It defines key terms such as 'dwelling unit,' 'rental property,' 'owner,' 'tenant,' 'lease,' and 'transfer of ownership' so that the article's requirements apply consistently and without ambiguity. Notably, the definitions are broad — for example, 'lease' covers both written and oral agreements, and 'owner' includes not just titleholders but also land contract vendees and lessors. These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for every other provision in the article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managing agents in Brookfield should be aware that § 12-702 casts a wide net: even oral rental agreements qualify as leases, and 'owner' encompasses a range of legal and equitable interests beyond simple title. A compliant operator familiarizes themselves with these definitions early, since whether a property or arrangement falls under the article's registration requirements depends entirely on how these terms apply to their specific holdings. Operators who experience a change in officers, directors, or any partial transfer of ownership interest should also note that § 12-702 defines 'transfer of ownership' broadly, which may trigger obligations elsewhere in the article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 12-702, the term 'tenant' is defined to include anyone occupying a dwelling unit under a lease, rental agreement, land contract, or lease-with-option-to-buy arrangement, meaning a wide range of occupancy situations fall within the article's protections. Tenants in Brookfield who are unsure whether their living arrangement qualifies under this article can reference these definitions as a starting point for understanding their coverage. Those with questions about how these definitions apply to their situation may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full text of Ch. 12 Art. XIII.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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