A landlady is a woman who owns a building and rents it out to other people to live in. When your family rents an apartment or house instead of owning it, you pay rent each month to the landlady (or landlord, if the owner is a man). The landlady is responsible for keeping the building in good condition, fixing major problems like broken heaters or leaky roofs, and making sure tenants follow the rules.

In older books and stories, you'll often encounter landladies who run boarding houses, where people rent rooms and sometimes get meals included. These landladies often appear as memorable characters: some are kind and motherly, others are strict about rules, and a few are downright nosy about their tenants' business.

The relationship between a landlady and her tenants works best when both sides keep their promises. Tenants pay rent on time and take care of the property. The landlady maintains the building and respects tenants' privacy. While the landlady owns the property, she can't just walk in whenever she wants. Tenants have legal rights to privacy in the space they're renting.