The main purpose of a residential lease is to

The primary function of a residential lease is to create an agreement for property use, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the tenant and the landlord. This document details how the tenant can occupy and use the property, including terms such as duration of the lease, rent amount, maintenance responsibilities, and any rules pertaining to the use of the space. By establishing clear guidelines for property use, a lease helps to prevent misunderstandings and disputes, ensuring that both parties are aware of their obligations and privileges during the tenancy.

While establishing a landlord-tenant relationship is a component of this process, it is more of a result of the lease agreement rather than its main purpose. Similarly, specifying terms of sale or granting ownership involves different legal contexts that are not applicable to a lease, which is fundamentally about renting and using property, not selling or transferring ownership.