This is not a rental situation where you are only known to your landlord by your paperwork and rent payments. We’re here to provide mentorship and accountability for living out a Christian life despite hardships and in a world that makes Christian living difficult. We offer you much more and ask more from you than a standard landlord.
Our lease agreement includes some unusual commitments from both the Landlord and the Tenant(s). These include the following:
A VISION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: The Landlord is a company managed by committed Christians desiring to provide safe, affordable housing for young people in transitional seasons of life. The vision includes aspects of mentorship, accountability, and support for advancing careers and education while living in a family-like environment while providing hospitality and service to the local neighborhood. By entering into this agreement, the Landlord and Tenant(s) affirm a desire to live in such a setting.
COMMUNITY MEMBER(S): The Premises is to be occupied strictly as a residential dwelling with the following six (6) Primary Community Members to reside on the Premises in addition to the Tenant(s) mentioned above: Dan Stephens, Skylar Stephens, Keaton Stephens, Sawyer Stephens, Teagan Stephens, and Harper Stephens. Additionally, other tenants in other units on the property are subject to their own lease agreements. Hereinafter, the primary Community Members and other tenants are known as the “Community Member(s)”.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Inspired by Hebrews 10:24-25, Community Members may collaborate on a regular basis to arrange and/or attend any of the following example community activities (this list is not exhaustive):
- Guys’ night out
- Ladies’ night out
- House dinners
- House game nights
- House worship nights
- House church services
- Neighborhood meals
- Neighborhood service
The frequency of any community activities will vary depending on the outside responsibilities of the Community Members, including work, education, extracurricular activities, et cetera. Community Members shall consistently be invited and encouraged to attend community activities, but not required.
COMMUNITY CODE OF CONDUCT: Community Members agree to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17 and the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:37-40. Specifically, Community Members seek to abstain from gossip, slander, drunkenness, drugs of any kind, and fornication or philandering (i.e. sexual activity outside of marriage). In any community, conflict is inevitable. Community Members shall seek to resolve conflict in a manner guided by Matthew 18:15-20 and Galatians 6:1-10. Additionally, Community Members are strongly encouraged to advance their careers, education, and financial independence.
MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, OR ALTERATIONS: The Tenant(s) shall, at their own expense and at all times, maintain premises in a clean and sanitary manner and shall surrender the same at termination hereof, in as good condition as received, normal wear and tear excepted. The Tenant(s) may not make any alterations to the leased premises without the consent in writing of the Landlord. The Landlord shall be responsible for repairs to the interior and exterior of the building. If the Premises includes a washer, dryer, freezer, dehumidifier unit and/or air conditioning unit, the Landlord makes no warranty as to the repair or replacement of units if one or all shall fail to operate. The Landlord will place fresh batteries in all battery-operated smoke detectors when the Tenant(s) moves into the premises. After the initial placement of the fresh batteries, it is the responsibility of the Tenant(s) to replace batteries when needed. A monthly “cursory” inspection may be required for all fire extinguishers to make sure they are fully charged. On a monthly basis, by the tenth of each month, the Landlord will inspect the cleanliness and sanitation of the premises and replace the air filters in the HVAC system.
CLEAN AND SANITARY MANNER: As used above means that:
- A Community Member’s personal belongings are secured in his or her own space;
- All food is put away in the refrigerator, cupboards, pantry, or any other safe food storage area;
- All trash or recycling is in the appropriate receptacles;
- Counters are wiped down;
- The bathroom is wiped down;
- Floors are swept and mopped;
- Any additional items are posted in the daily and weekly cleaning checklists.
- Community Members will seek to share the burden of cleaning evenly.
These sections of our lease agreement are important to carrying out the vision for this property. While these sections do not constitute the entire lease agreement, they reasonably represent the commitments and expectations that are not common with other lease agreements.