BC19 All contracts create rights and obligations for the parties to the contract. Lessee accounting in IFRS 16 considers the rights and obligations created by a lease from the perspective of the lessee. As discussed further in paragraphs BC105-BC126, a lease is defined as a ‘contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration’. The lessee accounting model in IFRS 16 reflects the economics of a lease because, at the commencement date, a lessee obtains the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time, and the lessor has delivered that right by making the asset available for use by the lessee.

BC20 A lessee has the right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and an obligation to make payments to the lessor for providing the right to use that asset. The lessee also has an obligation to return the underlying asset in a specified condition to the lessor at the end of the lease term. The lessor has a right to receive payments from the lessee for providing the right to use the underlying asset. The lessor also retains rights associated with ownership of the underlying asset.

BC21 Having identified the rights and obligations that arise from a lease, the IASB considered which of those rights and obligations create assets and liabilities for the lessee and lessor.