A landlord’s lien is a statutory lien that automatically grants a landlord a lien on any property belonging to the tenant found on the leased premises to secure unpaid rent.
In some states the lien extends to property removed from the leased premises no more than 30 days prior to the landlord’s exercise of the lien. In Texas the lien applies to property on the leased premises to cover up to six months of past due rent.
A landlord’s lien can have priority over a UCC-1 lien on the tenant’s personal property granted to the tenant’s lender.
EXAMPLE: Landlord may “lock-out” tenant and assert lien over equipment and inventory in retail space.
A landlord lien may be subordinated by a written agreement.