Houses may be hired for any period. By agreement for three years, or by leases of 7, 14, or 21 years, or by the week, month, quarter, or year, if the landlord chooses. The rent for the lease is generally lower than the rent for a three years' term. The three years' occupancy rent again is generally less than that paid by the year. The drawing out of a lease is very expensive, never, we believe, much less than 8/., and frequently more. There is nothing paid for the form of an agreement for three years, or at least not more than a guinea.

A tenant for a long lease generally agrees to do the repairs, and to paint the house inside and out, at certain fixed periods. Unless there is an express agreement in the lease to the contrary, a tenant is bound to pay his rent even after his premises have been destroyed by fire. Even if the landlord has insured the premises against fire, the tenant will still remain liable for the rent if they should be burned down, and he cannot compel the landlord to rebuild. But if the landlord has entered into a covenant or agreement to keep the house in good and tenantable repair, and it be burned down, or otherwise destroyed, though at law the tenant would still remain liable for the rent, in equity, it is submitted, he would be entitled to relief during the time the premises remained tmiruiabitable. As repairs are generally undertaken by the landlord in a three years' agreement, it is manifestly safest we think to take a house for that period, rather than on a lease, even allowing that the rent should be a little higher than for the latter. But without a special agreement, the tenant is still liable for the rent after the house is burned down. To avoid this risk a householder may insure for his rent yearly at any Insurance office.

Then, if he is burned out, the office pays the year's rent.

A tenant is not bound to repair damages by tempest, lightning, or inundation.

If the landlord agrees to repair, and fails to do so, the tenant or lessee may do the repairs himself, and deduct it from the rent.

If a lessee remains in his house after the expiration of his lease, he is liable for rent accruing after the termination of the lease. If he is allowed to remain in possession without renewing his lease, he is called a tenant by sufferance, and pays the same rent which he was charged during the lease. On the landlord's accepting any rent after the lease has terminated, the tenant becomes a yearly tenant, and must receive a half-year's notice to quit. No notice to quit is necessary when the house is held for a fixed period - as three years - the tenancy expiring with the time. But if the tenant be a yearly one, (and all who have not agreed to take their houses for a fixed period are held to be yearly tenants,) notice to quit must be given six months before the expiration of the year, so that the notice may expire on the very day the tenant entered into possession of the dwelling: - for example, if the house was taken December 25th, notice to quit must be given on June 24th, and the tenant must leave at the date he entered. If a house is taken by the quarter, a quarter's notice to quit must be given; if by the month, a month's notice; if by the week, a week's notice.

Yearly rent is paid quarterly - i.e., on March 25th, June 24th, September 29th, December 25th - and may be demanded on any of those days between sunrise and sunset; but few people pay their rent to the day. It is usually settled during the following week, and (if collected) is seldom sent for under three weeks from the day. Weekly rent is paid weekly; if suffered to run on to the quarter the tenant becomes a quarterly tenant. The rates and taxes paid by the landlord are, property tax - land tax - ground rent, and sewers' rates, which the tenant pays for him, but deducts from the rent during the current year. Most frequently however, the landlord stipulates in the agreement that the tenant shall pay the sewerage rates. The house tax is paid by the tenant, and is, on farmhouses occupied by a tenant or servant, and on houses in which articles are exposed for sale, 6d. in the pound - on private dwelling houses, 9d. in the pound.

The parish rates (except sewer rates) are all paid by the tenant.

Notice to quit should be given in writing, to save possible blunders, though verbal notice is sufficient, if there is a witness to prove that it was given, and that it was sufficiently explained.

The following is the form for giving notice to quit: -

Sir, - I hereby give you notice that I shall quit the house (or apartments) which I hold of you in------street (at the rent of £------per------), on------day of------18 - . Your obedient Servant, Address to landlord by his name and abode.

The incoming tenant of a house should be careful, before he takes possession, to ascertain whether the arrears of rent, ground-rent, taxes, and rates have been paid. He should also be certain when he pays the outgoing tenant for any fixtures, that they are not the property of the landlord.

The state of repair of the house should be carefully ascertained. All broken panes of glass should be repaired; or, if cracked, a note should be taken of the fact, otherwise they will be charged to the tenant on giving up possession. Symptoms of damp should be observed It may be detected by stains on the wall-papers or whitewash.

He should also see that the sash-lines of the windows are not worn, and that bolts, locks, shutters, etc., are in good order; that the bells ring; that the floors are level (for if they are not the edges of the planks will destroy the carpets), and that there are no gaps between the boards, nor round the skirting-boards. If Venetian blinds are left in the house, they should be carefully examined before purchasing them. He should try if the water-taps are right, and ascertain whether the water is on the main, or only let in at certain hours of the day; whether the cisterns are indoors or out, and of what materials they are made. A leaden tank or cistern is dangerous; it should be lined with slate, and covered to keep dust and bad smells from the water. An out-door tank is likely to get frozen in winter, and when it thaws a bursting of pipes is to be apprehended.

In short, no pains should be spared to ascertain that the house is as perfect as may reasonably be expected before entering on its tenancy.