The definition of the term “demise” covers more spectrums than just real estate related. Most commonly the term demise is used to talk about someone’s death. It is also used to describe the end of something that had been considered powerful but is no longer, such as a business, industry, or a system. In law, the term “demise” is used to describe a property that you decide to rent to someone for a specific period of time, or a legal agreement through which you rent, give or leave someone a property through a will. Another legal term used in real estate today is demised premises.
In the past the term “demise” was used to lease or rent a vessel by the shipowner to someone else. From the start date of the demise to the end date, that ship, it’s earnings, use and management fell entirely in the hands of the person renting it. When that time expired, everything went back to the shipowner and the demise contract had to be written again.
What means demise in real estate?
In order to define the word “demise” in real estate, we have to go to its origins. The term, when used in a legal or real estate setting, is derived from the Anglo-Norman démettre or demittere which means to send away. Today, the word “demise” is a legal jargon that means the act of granting a lease of property. For real estate, it refers to giving an estate, to transfer it through a will or a lease. What is important to mention is that a real estate demise is defined by a lease that allows ownership of a property for a specific period of time or for life, but the end time of the lease is mentioned, whether by date or by something that will happen in the future (i.e. Demise a property till the time of death). It is used synonymous to leasing or letting a property for a period of time. To demise means to convey land or property through a deed or contract for a particular period of time.
Popular Real Estate Terms
An arm’s-length transaction is a business deal, or transaction where the seller and buyer act independently of each other without influence on the other party. What sets these types ...
Incapable of performing duties because of a lack of knowledge and training. The individual may not possess the qualifications and credentials. For example, a prospective buyer of real ...
The definition of gross sales price in real estate refers to the combined cost of a property or listing before subtracting the real estate agent’s commission, sales tax and other ...
The American Society of Appraisers, also referred to as ASA, is the largest voluntary membership, a multi-discipline trade association that stands for and promotes its appraiser members. ...
Loan in which two or more lenders participate in the total financing of a single mortgage. The lenders in a piggyback loan do not necessarily have equal shares. ...
An agreement specified in the lease providing the tenant the option to renew the lease for a given time period upon the expiration of the initial lease. Most lease options include the ...
There are two definitions of annexation in real estate. The first definition of annexation in real estate deals with the expansion of cities and the accompanying zoning laws. When a city ...
The willingness of a lender to give a mortgage to a mortgagor. A mortgage commitment will give a time period the mortgage will be given and an indication of the interest rate to be charged ...
Thin layer or slate of baked clay, linoleum, or some other material that is used for covering floors, roofs, or as an ornament in a building. ...

Comments for Demise
What does demise mean?
Feb 23, 2020 08:12:10Hello, Lauren! Demise refers to the act of transferring legal rights, custody, attributes or other related aspects from one party to another or from one person to another. In real estate, demise can also mean a conveyance of property. The transfer of property for lifetime or for a determined amount of time. The term is loosely used to describe any conveyance. Demise is sometimes used synonymously with a lease, by which one conveys property, land or services to another for a determined amount of time. Also, having a short term lease or a long term lease is debatable and we have an article that highlights the pros and cons of short term leases.
Apr 08, 2020 12:23:17Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.