Legal

Force Majeure

A contract clause that relieves both landlord and tenant from liability when an extraordinary, unforeseeable event prevents performance of their obligations. Often called an "act of God" clause.

Extended Definition

Force majeure covers circumstances like natural disasters, wars, pandemics, and government-mandated labor strikes. In commercial leases, it may excuse a landlord from delivering premises on time or completing tenant improvements, but it almost never excuses the tenant from paying rent. The precise list of covered events matters: whether public health emergencies or supply chain disruptions are explicitly named determines enforceability. Courts interpret these clauses narrowly, requiring the event to make performance impossible, not merely unprofitable.

Related Terms

Related Lease Clauses

Related Articles

Extract lease terms automatically

Upload a commercial lease PDF and get 125+ structured fields — including all the terms defined in this glossary — extracted in under 3 minutes. $20 per lease.

Upload Your Lease