6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, 2525 § 2511

Definitions

In Force
Verified 10/21/2026 · Next check 10/28/2026
effective 10/21/2026DelawareLease Requirements

Operative Text

6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, 2525 § 2511
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Advertisement” means the attempt by publication, dissemination, solicitation or circulation to induce, directly or indirectly, any person to enter into any obligation or acquire any title or interest in, any merchandise.

(2) “Examination” means inspection, study or copying.

(3) “Lease” means any lease, offer to lease or attempt to lease any merchandise for any consideration.

(4) “Local telephone directory” means a telephone classified advertising directory or the business section of a telephone directory that is distributed free of charge to some or all telephone subscribers in a local area.

(5) “Local telephone number” means a telephone number that has the 3-number prefix(es) used by the telephone service company(ies) for telephones physically located within the area covered by the local telephone directory in which the number is listed. The term does not include long distance numbers or toll or toll free numbers listed in a local telephone directory.

(6) “Merchandise” means any objects, wares, goods, commodities, intangibles, real estate or services.

(7) “Person” means an individual, corporation, government, or governmental subdivision or agency, statutory trust, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, unincorporated association, 2 or more of any of the foregoing having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(8) “Sale” means any sale, offer for sale or attempt to sell any merchandise for any consideration.

(9) “Unfair practice” means any act or practice that causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers which is not reasonably avoidable by consumers themselves and not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition. In determining whether an act or practice is unfair, violations of public policy as established by law, regulation, or judicial decision applicable in this State may be considered as evidence of substantial injury.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Delaware's Consumer Fraud Act, at 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525, establishes the core vocabulary that governs how the law is applied throughout the subchapter. Terms like 'merchandise,' 'sale,' 'lease,' and 'advertisement' are defined broadly to cover a wide range of commercial transactions, including real estate dealings and services. The definition of 'unfair practice' is particularly significant: it captures conduct that causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers when that harm cannot reasonably be avoided and is not offset by broader benefits to consumers or competition.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 22, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers operating in Delaware should be aware that under 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525, the terms 'merchandise,' 'lease,' and 'advertisement' encompass real estate rentals and the promotional materials used to market them. A compliant operator generally ensures that all advertising, lease offers, and rental practices avoid conduct that could be characterized as causing unavoidable, uncompensated harm to prospective or current tenants. Because the definition of 'unfair practice' can incorporate violations of other laws and regulations as evidence of consumer injury, operators typically maintain compliance across all applicable housing and consumer-protection rules.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Tenants in Delaware benefit from the broad definitional framework established by 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525, which means that rental housing transactions—including advertisements, lease offers, and the leases themselves—fall within the scope of the state's consumer fraud protections. If a landlord's conduct causes harm that a tenant could not reasonably avoid and that harm is not offset by any legitimate benefit, it may qualify as an 'unfair practice' under this subchapter. Tenants who believe they have experienced such conduct can explore options such as filing a complaint with a relevant state consumer-protection office or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 21, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

6 Del. C. § 2513
6 Del. C. ch. 25
6 Del. C. § 2513
6 Del. C. ch. 25
6 Del. C. § 2513
6 Del. C. ch. 25
6 Del. C. § 2513
6 Del. C. ch. 25

Related Rules

§ 244.280
Tenant to be given copy of lease
§ 151.35
SEVERABILITY
§ 165.12
SEVERABILITY

Source Information

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