Withholding of rent – this term applies in the sphere of Contract Law. There it refers to the act of non-paying the monthly rent by the tenant, in the case where the property owner refuses to remove a defect of the property. The role of withholding the rent is different – either to discipline the landlord so he removes the defect, or to be a compensation for repair of the defect by the tenant. The last will usually use the money of the rent to repair the defect.