What constitutes a ‘material breach’ of a lease?

A material breach of a lease refers to a significant violation of the lease terms that undermines the agreement's purpose and justifies the non-breaching party in taking specific actions, such as seeking eviction or terminating the lease. This can include actions like failing to pay rent, making unauthorized alterations to the property, or any other major failure to fulfill the obligations outlined in the lease.

In contrast, minor delays in rent payment may not necessarily constitute a material breach, as landlords often have the option to provide a grace period or work out a payment plan. Regular maintenance requests are a standard part of property management and do not indicate a failure to adhere to the lease terms. Infringement of property rules may depend on the specifics of the rules and their enforcement but typically involves smaller infractions that may not rise to the level of a material breach, especially if they do not significantly disrupt the lease relationship.

Thus, the significant failure to adhere to lease terms is seen as a material breach because it severely affects the landlord-tenant relationship and the lease's intended purpose.