Generic Lease Agreement

LEASE AGREEMENT for 114 Third Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 (“the Third Street House”):

Room ______ to ____________________________ on __________ for the term of __________

This Lease is made this __ day of __, 20__, for an initial term of __ months, between __ (“Tenant”) and Ryan Townsend and Jason Townsend (“Landlords”). Landlords lease to Tenant Room __ (the “Room”) of the premises known as 114 Third Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 (the “House”), for the term stated above, commencing at 4:00 p.m. on __ and ending at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on __, for total rent of__ dollars ($__), payable as set out below.

Landlords, Manager, and the Townsend Family

Ryan Townsend and Jason Townsend are the Landlords under this Lease and hold legal authority over it. Dr. Karan Townsend serves as Manager of the House and is authorized by the Landlords to collect rent, coordinate maintenance and move-in/move-out logistics, and communicate with Tenant on the Landlords’ behalf. Other members of the Townsend family may from time to time assist with the care of the House; references in this Lease and its addenda to the “Townsend Family” refer collectively to the Landlords and the Manager (Townsend family members), none of whom (other than the Landlords) has authority to modify the terms of this Lease.

First Month’s Rent — No Security Deposit

No security deposit is required or collected under this Lease. Instead, Tenant must pay the first month’s rent (prorated if the commencement date falls after the first of the month, plus the following full month’s rent as applicable) in full at signing, to secure the Room and validate this Lease. For example, where a tenancy begins mid-month, the amount due at signing equals the prorated rent for the partial first month plus the full rent for the following calendar month.

This payment is rent — not a security deposit — and will not be refunded if Tenant fails to occupy the Room for any reason, except as otherwise required by law or as the Landlords otherwise agree in writing.

How to Pay

Unless other arrangements are agreed to in writing, monthly rent must be paid by fee-free direct transfer via Zelle (not PayPal or similar services that charge fees). Account details for payment will be provided to Tenant separately and securely at signing. Each payment must include a memo indicating the month(s) covered.

[Optional addition for a stay prior to the official Lease commencement: “In addition, Tenant will rent Room ____ for ____ (____) days beginning at 4:00 p.m. on ____________ and ending at 12:00 p.m. on ____________ at a rate of ____________ dollars ($______) per day, totaling ____________ dollars ($______).”]

IT IS AGREED

Monthly rent payments will be made at the time specified, without deduction or demand.
Because no security deposit is collected, rent already paid will not be refunded if Tenant vacates the Room before the end of the Lease term, except in unusual circumstances agreed to in writing by the Landlords. The Room may be leased to a new tenant immediately upon a Tenant’s departure, with no compensation owed to the former Tenant.
The Room will be used as a residence only, for one person only. This Lease may not be assigned, and the Room may not be sublet, without the Landlords’ written consent. If Tenant vacates before the end of the Lease term and finds an approved sublessee, Tenant may sublease the Room with the Landlords’ written consent; Tenant remains responsible for paying the agreed monthly rent to the Landlords, and the sublessee pays Tenant directly.
This Lease includes utilities, furniture and furnishings, use of the washer and dryer, use of the indoor and outdoor common areas, and household supplies, as further described in the Lease addenda.
The Room is rented “as is.” Tenant agrees to maintain the Room in its current condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, including keeping the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems within the Room in good order, and to pay for damage to them resulting from the negligence of Tenant or Tenant’s guests. The Room will be returned at the end of this Lease in the same condition in which it was received, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Any painting or remodeling must be approved and supervised by the Landlords in advance. Nothing in this paragraph waives or limits the Landlords’ obligation under District of Columbia law to maintain the premises in a safe, sanitary, and habitable condition.
Tenant agrees to comply with all applicable health, fire, and police regulations with respect to the premises, and will not use or allow the use of the premises for any disorderly or unlawful purpose.
Landlords will provide Tenant with quiet enjoyment of the Room for the term of this Lease. Tenant will allow the Landlords, the Manager, or their agents access to the Room at reasonable times to show, inspect, or repair it. Except in an emergency, Landlords will give at least 24 hours’ notice, where reasonably possible, before entering the Room, and access will generally occur between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tenant agrees to make the Room available for showing beginning 30 days before an agreed move-out date, if requested.
Tenant agrees to hold the Landlords harmless from liability for injury to persons or property in or about the premises, to the extent permitted by law. All personal property within the Room remains at Tenant’s own risk. The Landlords do not carry renters’ insurance on Tenant’s behalf; Tenant should obtain renters’ insurance if desired.
If Tenant fails to pay rent as scheduled, or violates any other condition of this Lease, the Landlords may pursue termination and recovery of possession only through the judicial process required by District of Columbia law (including D.C. Code § 42-3505.01), which requires a written notice, a court proceeding in D.C. Superior Court, and, if the Landlords prevail, a court-ordered writ of restitution executed by the U.S. Marshals Service. To the fullest extent permitted by law, this Lease serves as advance notice reducing or waiving the separate notice-to-quit otherwise required before that process begins, but does not waive the requirement of a court order. The Landlords will not attempt to regain possession by self-help — including changing locks, removing Tenant’s belongings, or shutting off utilities — as District of Columbia law prohibits self-help eviction under any circumstances. Tenant remains responsible for rent and damages resulting from a lawful termination, and the Landlords may relet the Room for their own benefit.
If the premises become uninhabitable due to fire or other casualty not caused by Tenant or Tenant’s guests, this Lease will, at the Landlords’ option, either be suspended until the premises are restored or terminated effective as of the date of the casualty, with Tenant responsible only for rent through that date. The Landlords are under no obligation to restore the premises, but this paragraph does not waive Tenant’s rights under District of Columbia habitability law.
The terms of the Inventory Addendum, the Rules for Residents Addendum, the Welcome Addendum, and, where applicable, the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Addendum are incorporated into this Lease. Repeated failure to abide by the terms of any addendum is grounds for termination of this Lease, subject to Paragraph 9.
This Lease automatically renews on a month-to-month basis after the initial term stated above ends, unless either party gives at least 30 days’ written notice of intent to end the tenancy, or unless a different notice period is required under District of Columbia law.
Landlords comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and do not discriminate in the rental of the Room based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, disability, source of income, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
This Lease is governed by the laws of the District of Columbia. If any provision of this Lease is found invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Lease remains in full force and effect.
The waiver of one condition of this Lease does not waive or otherwise affect any other condition of this Lease.

WITNESS the following signatures on the day and year appearing below, for the term indicated above:

_____________________________________________________________

TENANT / DATE

Mobile / Work Tel. No.: __________________________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

LANDLORD — Ryan Townsend / DATE

_____________________________________________________________

LANDLORD — Jason Townsend / DATE

Karan Townsend, as Manager, may countersign to acknowledge receipt of this Lease on the Landlords’ behalf, but the Landlords named above are the parties bound by its terms.

ADDENDUM TO LEASE: INVENTORY

Landlords will provide household supplies used for cleaning, toilet tissue, paper towels, and trash bags; use of the washer and dryer; and use of all common areas. Landlords will also provide the furniture and furnishings indicated below. Please initial next to each item present in your Room and note the quantity. Note any existing damage and any comments, questions, and/or suggestions that you have for Landlords.

____ ____ Bed:

____ ____ Cabinet:

____ ____ Desk:

____ ____ Chair:

____ ____ Bookcase:

____ ____ Lamp:

____ ____ Trash can:

____ ____ Rug:

____ ____ Curtains:

____ ____ Pictures:

____ ____ Refrigerator:

____ ____ Microwave:

____ ____ Fan:

____ ____ Wardrobe:

____ ____ Pillows & Linens (towels, washcloths, mattress protector, mattress pad, fitted sheets, flat sheets, pillow protectors, pillowcases, comforters, blankets — specify):

_____________________________________________________________ ___________

TENANT / DATE

ADDENDUM TO LEASE: Rules for Residents at the Third Street House

In order to promote safety, peace, unity, comfort, and convenience within the residence at 114 Third Street NE, all residents are asked to read, initial, and abide by the following guidelines, which have evolved over the past decades:

____ Keep exterior doors locked at all times, except the glass Entry Hall door, which should always be unlocked. Never leave the wooden door unlocked. When you enter the House, turn the bolt. When you leave, press the button on the electronic lock.

____ Pick up your mail from the Entry Hall daily. Baskets are organized by floor (first basket = 1st floor, etc.). Place mail addressed to former residents, notes to the Townsends, and marketing mail in the basket near the glass door. File a forwarding address card at the post office when you move.

____ Do not bring bicycles into the House or leave them in front of the House or in the Storeroom. Store bicycles only on the Back Patio.

____ Do not smoke in the House. If you or your guests smoke outside, dispose of cigarette butts properly.

____ Pets are not allowed.

____ Overnight visits from friends and relatives are not allowed. Only Tenants should be on the premises after 10 p.m. on weeknights (Sunday–Thursday) and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on weekends (Friday–Saturday).

____ Keep the premises clutter-free. Let the Townsend Family know if you need help organizing your things or need additional storage. Do not leave personal items in exterior areas or interior common areas (Foyer, Entry Hall, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Hallways). Items left in these areas are considered abandoned and may be used or discarded by the Townsend Family or other residents. Keep toiletries, linens, food, and other personal items in designated, agreed-upon places. If you must leave something in a common area that you don’t want used or discarded, leave a note with it. Do not leave dirty dishes anywhere on the premises for more than 24 hours; they belong in the Kitchen.

The closet in the Entry Hall, the closet in the Second Floor Hallway, and the Storeroom are for the Landlords’ use only. Anything left there is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the Townsend Family.

____ Maintain the Kitchen on a 24/7 “clean as you use it” basis. Clean up spills in the fridge, stove, microwave, floors, and counters immediately. The Townsend Family is not responsible for spills you cause. The Townsend Family is responsible only for cleaning the floors and occasional deep cleaning (defrosting freezers, wiping the fridge, cleaning the oven, etc.). Please let us know if you notice residents not following this system.

____ Keep your personal items only in the Kitchen cabinet assigned to your Room, unless otherwise approved.

____ Work out a dishwashing system with other residents so the work is shared equally. Absent an agreed system, you are responsible for washing your own dishes immediately after use. The Townsend Family does not wash dishes or load/unload the dishwasher.

____ Remove your clothes from the washer immediately after the cycle ends. If you find someone else’s laundry left in the washer or dryer, place it in a plastic trash bag.

____ The 3rd floor has two bedrooms connected to the kitchen/common area. Out of courtesy, observe quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Friday–Saturday. You may still use the kitchen area during these hours, but keep conversation and appliance noise to a minimum.

____ Keep trash and recycling to a minimum in the Kitchen and your Room. Each Room has an assigned trash bin in the Kitchen — use only your assigned bin, and empty it into the trash cart (the large bins on wheels) as needed. Recycling may go in the green cart; trash may not go in the blue recycling cart.

Residents of 1W, 2W, B1, B2, and B3 use the trash carts near the back door. Residents of 1E, 2E, 2M, 3E, and 3W use the trash carts near the front door.

Trash pickup is Monday and Thursday mornings, so carts need to be moved to the curb Sunday and Wednesday evenings. The Townsend Family is not responsible for bringing trash to the carts, but is responsible for moving the carts to the curb.

____ Turn off lights when you leave a room, to save electricity. The Townsend Family supplies lightbulbs for common areas; residents supply lightbulbs for their own Rooms.

____ Send maintenance, repair, or improvement requests by email to Karan, copying Ryan and Jason. Karan will coordinate with the on-site resident manager and the Landlords to resolve the issue.

____ The Housekeeper inspects the premises weekly and notifies the Townsend Family of any problems observed. Please let us know if you notice any issues as well. Photos and detailed comments would be helpful.

Contact Karan (304.702.1872), Ryan (502.216.4636), or Jason (202.415.7400) if you’d like to discuss modifying these rules or suggest improvements to Third Street. We welcome your feedback and will do what we reasonably can within the constraints of time and money.

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS / SUGGESTIONS:

_______________________________________________________ __________

TENANT / DATE

ADDENDUM TO LEASE: GENERAL INFORMATION

Welcome to the Third Street House! For questions or comments about life in Washington, D.C., generally, or at Third Street specifically, please contact:

Jason — 202.415.7400; Jason@TownsendSnowandCo.com (Capitol Hill)

Ryan — 502.216.4636; RyanCTownsend@gmail.com (Louisville, Kentucky)

Karan — 304.702.1872; karantownsend@gmail.com (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia)

Services / Shopping / Transportation / Parking

Numerous banks and small businesses are located along Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Post offices are located on Pennsylvania Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets and on North Capitol Street, near Union Station. The nearest grocery is the corner market at 4th Street NE and East Capitol Street; a Trader Joe’s is located at Eastern Market (7th Street NE & Pennsylvania Avenue). The nearest Metro stations are Capitol South and Union Station.

Contact the DC DMV or other residents for information about parking, which requires a Zone 6 permit. The Supreme Court parking lot is available from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday–Friday, and all day on weekends. The Townsend Family does not track or provide parking information to residents.

Cleaning / Supplies

A professional housekeeping service cleans the shared interior common areas (bathrooms, hallways, and kitchens of the main house [upper three floors] and basement apartment, including floors and ceiling fans). The Townsend Family maintains shared exterior common areas (Deck, Patios, Porches, Sidewalks, etc.). As noted in the Rules for Residents, the kitchens are “clean as you go” areas — the Townsend Family does not wash dishes, take out trash, or provide personal housekeeping for tenants.

The Townsend Family shops for and stocks the kitchens and bathrooms with toilet tissue, paper towels, dishwasher soap, dish soap, hand soap, trash bags, cleaning equipment (mops, sponges), and cleansers (glass cleaner, furniture and floor polish, scouring powder, spray cleaners, vacuum bags, etc.). Residents are responsible for their own laundry detergent, fabric softener, Room lightbulbs, food, and food-prep consumables (Ziploc bags, foil, plastic wrap, etc.).

_____________________________________________________________

TENANT / DATE

ADDENDUM TO LEASE: DISCLOSURE (Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards. Required by federal law (42 U.S.C. § 4852d) for housing built before 1978.)

Lead Warning Statement

Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly. Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women. Before renting pre-1978 housing, landlords must disclose the presence of known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling. Tenants must also receive a federally approved pamphlet on lead poisoning prevention.

Landlords’ Disclosure

(a) Presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards (check one):

____ Known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards are present in the housing (explain): ______________________________________________________________________________

√ Landlords have no knowledge of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the housing.

(b) Records and reports available to the Landlords (check one):

____ Landlords have provided Tenant with all available records and reports pertaining to lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the housing (list documents): ________________

√ Landlords have no reports or records pertaining to lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the housing.

Tenant’s Acknowledgment

____ Tenant has received copies of all information listed above, if any.

____ Tenant has received the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.”

Certification of Accuracy: The parties have reviewed the information above and certify, to the best of their knowledge, that the information they have provided is true and accurate.

______________________________________________________________________________

TENANT / DATE

______________________________________________________________________________

LANDLORD — Ryan Townsend / DATE
LANDLORD — Jason Townsend / DATE

ADDENDUM TO LEASE: RESIDENT INFORMATION

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Permanent Address

__________________________________________________________________

Contact Information

Mobile Tel: ________________________ Work Tel: _______________________

Email: ____________________________________________________________

Work Address and Contact Information

__________________________________________________________________

Emergency Contact (Name and Contact Information)

__________________________________________________________________

Work References (2)

__________________________________________________________________

Personal References (2)

__________________________________________________________________

Optional — Emergency Medical Information: This section is entirely optional. Complete it only if you would like the Townsend Family to have this information on hand in case of a medical emergency:____________________________________

These Attractions and many more within walking distance of 114 Third Street NE

Generic Lease Agreement

thirdstreetrentals.com

karantownsend@gmail.com