Room and board is an arrangement where a tenant is offered accommodation and meals in exchange for work. It differs from rental in that the tenant shares the house with the owner and has only one private bedroom. Room for rent is a similar arrangement, but without meals or housework. Some landlords offer free accommodation and a small salary in exchange for full-time building administration. Room and board can be a win-win situation, but it is important to discuss duties and exceptions and to check references before entering into an agreement.
Room and board is an offer of room and board, usually in exchange for work. Families with large houses and an extra bedroom usually hire a domestic worker, for example, and offer room and board, plus a small stipend. The salary takes into account that room and board are provided as the major part of the salary. The tenant in return has various duties, which may include anything from cleaning the house, looking after an elderly or disabled person, garden work, cooking or childcare.
The difference between room and board and “rental” is that the tenant normally has only one private bedroom and shares the rest of the house with the person or persons providing room and board. The tenant, on the other hand, pays a monthly rent to the landlord for the private home complete with bathroom and kitchen, or in the case of a bachelor apartment, a kitchenette. The tenant lives and works independently from the owner.
Another type of rental is “room for rent”. For room and board, this renter gets only a private bedroom in a house where the other amenities are shared. However, no meals are provided, nor is housework required. People offering such a deal are simply looking to supplement their income to make a monthly rental or mortgage payment. The only real benefit for the renter is that it’s much less expensive than renting an entire house.
There are some areas where room, board and rent combine. Condominium owners often offer one of the apartments to a tenant for free, along with a small salary, in exchange for the tenant being a full-time administrator of the building. It is essentially a question of “board and lodging” since the landlord pays for the apartment and meals by offering a small salary. However, it is not normally advertised under this name, as the tenant gets full private accommodation. It is most commonly advertised as a managerial position.
Occasionally, room and board are offered free of charge out of the kindness of people’s hearts. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005, many Good Samaritans across the country provided food and temporary shelter to families in need.
Goodwill aside, most offers of room and board are made in exchange for work. Before entering into an agreement, it is in the interest of both parties to discuss the conditions thoroughly and draw up a detailed contract. The contract should not only stipulate the duties required of the tenant, but it should also list the exceptions – what the tenant is not required to do. Will cooking be required? Laundry duties? Guide? If assistance is required for a disabled or elderly person, ensure the tenant is qualified.
Accommodation and food can be a very win-win situation for everyone involved. A tenant can move into a house and get paid without having to worry about where to live. The person offering the room also gets a good deal, as an extra bedroom is quite useless, while a tenant can be of great help to a family. When the game is good, everyone wins.
Anyone considering entering into a room and board lease should speak to neighbors about the potential “employer” before agreeing. The tenant should ask for some telephone numbers of longtime friends or business associates that he or she can contact for character references. The same goes for the other party, especially if the tenant will look after children or the elderly or disabled. Renter should ensure they check qualifications, references and previous employers. Background checks are also an option.
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