What defines an estate for years?

An estate for years is specifically defined as a leasehold interest in real property that is created for a fixed, predetermined duration. This means that both the landlord and the tenant have agreed upon specific start and end dates for the lease term. The critical aspect of an estate for years is that it has a defined period, which distinguishes it from other types of leasehold arrangements.

For example, if a tenant leases a property from January 1 to December 31 of the same year, that arrangement is clearly an estate for years because the duration is known and fixed. The lease does not extend beyond that specified term unless a new agreement is made.

Other types of leasehold interests, like month-to-month tenancies or leases with automatic renewals, do not qualify as estates for years because their duration is either indefinite or subject to extensions based on certain conditions. This clarity and certainty about the lease term is what fundamentally characterizes an estate for years.