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SHARING Costs
How does the rent work?
It depends on the size of the room. Different rooms range from $640 to $810 a month, based on the square footage.
What about utilities?
Utilities cost an additional $75 per person, a flat rate that covers gas heat, electricity, water, and wireless Internet.
What about food costs?
We pay for food separately through the house kitty. Each of us contributes about $50 a week, according to the season (see below). This also covers standard house supplies — light bulbs, detergent and so on.
It depends on the size of the room. Different rooms range from $640 to $810 a month, based on the square footage.
What about utilities?
Utilities cost an additional $75 per person, a flat rate that covers gas heat, electricity, water, and wireless Internet.
What about food costs?
We pay for food separately through the house kitty. Each of us contributes about $50 a week, according to the season (see below). This also covers standard house supplies — light bulbs, detergent and so on.
Are there any other regular costs?
Every summer we subscribe to a local farm share, which supplies us with organic vegetables for 20 weeks; we also purchase a winter-season share for certain greens and root vegetables. These work out to about $100 per person each, twice a year. Sometimes we decide to pool funds for special celebrations, or to buy a newspaper subscription for the household, but this depends on the interests of members.
Who owns the house?
It belongs to one of the residents. The rent that members contribute goes directly toward mortgage and utility payments.
Who pays for long-term items, like kitchen equipment?
With seven residents we tend to be very well supplied! For example, we currently have three sets of flatware, four ironing boards, and so on. However, tools like rakes and shovels for standard household maintenance are the responsibility of the householder.
Every summer we subscribe to a local farm share, which supplies us with organic vegetables for 20 weeks; we also purchase a winter-season share for certain greens and root vegetables. These work out to about $100 per person each, twice a year. Sometimes we decide to pool funds for special celebrations, or to buy a newspaper subscription for the household, but this depends on the interests of members.
Who owns the house?
It belongs to one of the residents. The rent that members contribute goes directly toward mortgage and utility payments.
Who pays for long-term items, like kitchen equipment?
With seven residents we tend to be very well supplied! For example, we currently have three sets of flatware, four ironing boards, and so on. However, tools like rakes and shovels for standard household maintenance are the responsibility of the householder.
What about repairs?
We do all the work that we can ourselves. We share in the labor, just as we share in the benefit to the house, but the householder pays for supplies like paint, plaster, and so on that stay with the house. Specialty jobs like plumbing or electrical work that require a contractor are the responsibility of the householder.
Is Arlington Friends House non-profit?
We operate that way, although we're not incorporated. Rental income only covers a portion of the actual costs of the house.
We do all the work that we can ourselves. We share in the labor, just as we share in the benefit to the house, but the householder pays for supplies like paint, plaster, and so on that stay with the house. Specialty jobs like plumbing or electrical work that require a contractor are the responsibility of the householder.
Is Arlington Friends House non-profit?
We operate that way, although we're not incorporated. Rental income only covers a portion of the actual costs of the house.
