Need lease advice! Being offered free rent for work?

[naseem]

I have a unique rental opportunity that sounds perfect, but I need advice on how to handle the fine details. An owner of a horse training facility has offered me free rent in the home on the property in return for feeding the horses morning and night, cleaning stalls in the morning, feeding chickens, and keeping weeds down. The owner's lawyer has drafted a formal agreement for both of us to sign. In return, I would live in the home. There is a annual lease agreement, but there are a few catches that I need advice on. One is a vague inspection clause. It states that the landlord may inspect the premises at any point and time. According to CA tenant laws, there has to be a 24 hour written notice given before entering property. I am planning on bringing this up on our next meeting before signing the lease documents. Also, the landlord/owner has stated that the landlord or guests may use the house's restroom. This is a bit invasive, but as the facilities are newer, construction on the stable's restroom is not complete. Obviously I want to have some sort of notice before someone comes walking into the home. I believe I should have these requests in writing. How should I draft them? Additionally, I am in a current lease elsewhere until the end of August. The owner originally agreed that I would begin work and the move-in in August, however they have since fired the individual that was completing the ranch work due to a discrepancy and now are insisting I start work NOW, even though the house is undergoing re-modeling. Is it unreasonable for me to deny free labor? I feel as if I were to start feeding, cleaning, etc. it would be like me 'paying rent' but not receiving anything in return. Additionally, the owner has said I could work and move in next week (when re-modeling is finished). However, I cannot justify paying rent at my current home through August 31 while living somewhere else. The new property is roughly 25 miles from my current home, so it is not a quick drive to go finish these chores. ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Thank you!

[naseem]

I had horses once. Joining little SOBs

[ricki]

I had horses once. Joining little SOBs

I think you are correct to address the 24 hour notice of inspection. It is not unreasonable for you to ask for advance notice if they simply want to check up on you and the property. Have it written into the lease that the landlord must post a written notice on your front door (or wherever you will see it) at least 24 hours prior to coming into the home.

The issue about the restroom is difficult. It is the landlord's home, and if you don't want them coming in to use the restroom then you don't have to sign the lease. But realistically, what kind of notice can you expect when they are coming to use the bathroom? I think it would be fair for them to call before they come up to the house just to let you know they are doing so, but that's all you can ask for. Have it written into the lease that they must phone you before entering the home to use the facilities, and that they must leave as soon as their usage is complete. If you know what times you will be using it for a lengthy period (such as a shower), you can also have it written in there that they cannot use the facilities at those times.

It's not unreasonable for you to deny free labor. However, this is something that the landlord is offering you, and it's going to be a take-it-or-leave-it situation. You have a few choices. Start work now, and move into the home when your current lease is up. Start work now, move into the home now, and continue paying rent in your apartment until the lease is up. Or, don't accept the person's offer. You can try to negotiate it, but it sounds like this person isn't willing to negotiate.