Provides an overview of issues relating to tenants who provide child care services in their residential rental units, with a focus on providers’ concerns about how the business may affect their lease arrangements and relationships with the landlord and other tenants. Providers of home-based family child care who rent their homes get information about: (1) legal aspects of the rental agreement, including both landlords’ and tenants’ rights and responsibilities, as well as zoning laws that may create barriers to their home-based business; (3) types of leases and lease provisions, what to do before signing a lease, and ways to modify the lease; (4) protections not stated in the lease, including the covenant of quiet enjoyment and the warranty of habitability; (5) how to address effectively landlords’ concerns about risk of extra damage to the unit or harm to children, noise, and other liabilities; and (6) how to get legal help when facing eviction and alternatives to going to court. With this information, home-based child care providers can set clear expectations about their business at the beginning of the rental relationship and arrange appropriate protections in their leases and with insurance to cover liabilities.
