For operators · Free from Steward

The Lease-Signing Checklist

Five questions to answer before committing to any property for recovery housing. Ten minutes with this list can save a program from the most expensive mistakes we see.

1. 1. Does the zoning actually allow your bed count?

   Cities differ wildly. A house that legally holds 10 beds in one city holds 5 across the line. Verify the by-right number for the exact parcel before the budget gets built on hope.

2. 2. Do spacing rules apply at this address?

   Many cities enforce separation requirements between licensed homes, measured property line to property line. An address inside a buffer can lose its licensing path after you have signed.

3. 3. Can the landlord end your program with one letter?

   A standard lease means a standard non-renewal. Ask for renewal options in writing, a right of first refusal to purchase, or better: a lease-to-own path so the house your beds are in can become yours.

4. 4. Who pays when the city requires changes?

   Sprinklers, egress, occupancy upgrades. If the lease is silent, the fight arrives with the first inspection. Put it in writing before signatures.

5. 5. Is there a path to owning the house instead?

   Programs that own their real estate never lose a home to landlord roulette. Lease-first, buy-later structures exist that fit a program's cash flow. Ask about them before you sign anything.