Housing Agreement for College Student Living with You

Rent: Daughter is staying rent free (or if there is rent put in whatever amount that is agreed upon) at such and such address. The relatives will have such and such bedroom/room that is daughter's own space, daughter may not paint unless granted permission by relatives or damage the property. If purposeful damage does occur daughter will have to pay for the repairs this excludes the normal wear and tare of a room, a few examples: such as discolored or worn rug, scuff marks on floor and little bumps on the wall. Water, heat and A/C is either included in the rent or free, the relatives must make sure it is a safe environment for daughter.

Privacy: Daughter is aloud to keep door closed to her said room mentioned above unless relatives are concerned/uncomfortable with the friends or activity that is going on in the room. This includes; (insert what might be concerned as an uncomfortable situation for relatives, ex: sex, making out, smoking whatever). Relatives are aloud to knock and ask for entrance at anytime but must respect daughter's privacy unless they think the above concerns are taken place.

Curfew: Noise curfew is in-effect starting at (insert time decided upon); this means no loud music, tv or talking that can be heard through the walls. This also includes no friends after that said time unless otherwise approved by relatives. -- You as a parent can set a curfew if you feel the need to, insert here what you would like the relatives to enforce -- There may be special occasions to be louder past noise curfew but must be approved by relatives first.

Food/Drinks: Daughter is responsible for paying/getting her own food which may be kept in the refrigerator in the kitchen labeled with her name OR may be kept in a small mini-fridge in her room. OR ANOTEHR way (pick what is decided upon) Relatives will provide food for daughter free of charge, daughter may eat/drink whatever is in the house within reason as long as there is no mass amount of waste.

Chores: Daughter is expected to do (insert chores) once a week. The chores may be done at any time during the week but must be done at least once a week (or whatever decided upon). Relatives are aloud to remind daughter of chores only if they have not been done yet that week, the relatives are aloud to ask daughter to do said chores before going out (this excludes classes, job, sports and other activities that are important to school work such as a study group). Daughter is expected to clean up after herself, with in reason.

Laundry: Daughter has full access to the laundry room/units to do her own laundry, relatives are not responsible for daughters laundry as she is not responsible for theirs. Daughter must provide her own laundry detergents, relatives are not responsible to provide laundry detergent OR Daughter is aloud to use whatever laundry detergents she finds in the laundry room and if she has a special request on kind the relatives do not have to provide the request.

Religion: Daughter is aloud to worship as she see fit as long as it does not disrupt the relatives household, if the activity is inhumane the relatives have every right to step in other wise daughter can worship in the privacy of her room. Said person is responsible in getting to and from church, relatives are not responsible for said persons transportation unless they are able/willing. Daughter will not force her beliefs on relatives and relatives will not force their beliefs on daughter.

Replace all the daughter's with your daughter's name and change any of the wording to what you/daughter AND relatives agree on. You can go on and on adding what ever you want, make sure to ask what the relatives are expecting/want too. The agreement does not have to be written in legal speak, it can be written out plainly then daughter, relatives and a third party sign it and everyone gets a copy (as well as make extras) so that everyone is on the same page.

I just want to add that you should also get it notarized. I don't know if it's a free service and where to go, but one of my banks has this service for free. So check the bank, city hall, or the post office.

Having a place to live for free is a big help, but only if she will have some privacy and time to study. She should be allowed to go to her own church.She should clean up after herself and help with chores as if she were home. If there is babysitting involved that should be arranged ahead of time as a scheduled thing.Having friends over should be discussed. Common curtesy and respect for the host should be enforced. ex) If you're going to stay at a friends house or be late you should call.Will they be supplying food or does she need a fridge and use of a kitchen.Does she have her own room?
It is really generous of them to let her stay with them. Are they looking for any kind of work exchange or money? It is good to know all these things ahead of time.

I just wanted to say this is an excellent idea, even if you have to pay $30 for it. Yes, both sides should extend common courtesy (as other responses have said) The situation benefited both parties but since there was no written agreement, towards the end of our time there when communication started to break down we were worried we would be thrown out. And since there was no written list of "rules", we were just told "please treat this house as you would treat your own" (which sounds reasonable, but you realize that the way they think you would treat your own house, like keeping the AC at 80 degrees to save money, and the way you would really treat your house like turning the AC to 78 because your babies are too hot, are different). Because of this there was constant friction.

I would type everything up that you want to cover and have all of them sign it and make copies for each of them and yourself. make it as detailed as you want.

I think it is great that you and your daughter do not want there to be any potential problems and that she is being proactive and wanting to open the lines of communication - VERY SMART! Have her sit down (or call so you can also be a part of the conversation) with your relatives and discuss everything and put it all out on the table so there won't be any problems. Best of luck!

I don't have any advise to add. I only want to commend you and your daughter for thinking this through. I can only imagine that your relatives will be pleased, because this act, in and of itself, demonstrates that they will have a responsible, thoughtful young lady staying in their household. Best wishes to you and your daughter!

I like Katie B. post. What I would add is that there are thing that shouldn't be your or your daughters complete decision.
Like curfew, I think curfew in other home, for consideration, should be a decision of the family she is staying with. You may think that since she is a grown up she can stay late, perhaps you know her and trust her.
But if I would get worry about my own kids going out late, I would be sick worry about the huge responsibility of some one else kid.
If you guys are not paying for rent, perhaps they wont see anything wrong if she helps them back by doing some chores for them.
In my opinion I don't see nothing wrong with her doing some chores for them (withinh a reason). My MIL is paying for my daughters privet school, and my daughter is cleaning her room and bath once a week (she is not expect more then a 12 year old should clean) and I think is amazing.
Of course, this should be talk before.
My mom always told me (I will try to translate the best I can), where you were, do what they do.
It didn't came quit right, lol.
What she means is that when you are to somebody's house or country for example, you should respect and try to integrate as part of it.
This doesn't mean that she has to change her religion, but for example, if they are into the Eco friendly and only use eco friendly product, your daughter should not use hard chemical cleaners to clean the house, even if that is what you have teach her.
To make it work the best, I think what Katie wrote is very good and perhaps you should ask them to write their own too, and see what are the difference and what it needs to be change before she moves in.