Another emerging area concerns internet connectivity. With reliable, high-speed internet now being as essential as water or electricity for many tenants, new clauses are appearing that address this. While the tenant is still typically responsible for paying for their own internet service, a forward-thinking landlord might include a clause warranting that the building is properly wired for high-speed fiber-optic service from specific providers. This can be a major selling point for tenants who rely on a stable connection for their livelihood.

The issue of landlord access also takes on new meaning. A landlord’s right to enter a property with proper notice for inspections or repairs is standard. However, in a home that is also an office, an unexpected visit can be highly disruptive to a tenant’s work. Some modern leases are now including clauses that require more flexible scheduling or a slightly longer notice period to accommodate the tenant’s work schedule, demonstrating a good-faith effort to minimize disruption.

Finally, with the rise of smart home technology, clauses governing data privacy and smart devices are becoming more common. If a landlord provides a unit with smart thermostats, locks, or security systems, the lease must be transparent about what data these devices collect, who has access to it, and how it is used. These evolving lease clauses reflect a necessary adaptation to a world where the home has become the new office.

The global shift towards remote and hybrid work has fundamentally changed our relationship with our homes. For millions of people, a residence is no longer just a place to live; it is also a place of work. This has created a new set of challenges and considerations for the landlord-tenant relationship, prompting the evolution of new lease clauses designed to address the realities of the modern, work-from-home era of 2024.

One of the most important new clauses is the “Home Business” or “Use of Premises” clause. Traditional leases often contain a clause restricting the property to “residential use only.” However, the line between residential and commercial use has blurred. A modern lease needs to clarify what is permissible. It might explicitly permit office-based work that does not involve clients visiting the property, but prohibit activities that could increase foot traffic, noise, or liability, such as running a daycare or a repair shop from the apartment. This protects the landlord and other residents from disturbances.