Reading a Simple Lease | Rent, Deposits + Move-In | Life Skills

Reading a Simple Lease: a functional reading and math set for high school life skills, special education, and transition programs. Rent, due dates, deposits, utilities, pets, and repairs. Know what you are signing.

Why I made this: Signing a first lease is one of the biggest things a young adult does, and most of them sign without reading it. A simple lease has the same sections every time: rent, the due date and late fee, the deposit, utilities, pets, repairs, and moving out. This set uses a short, plain lease so students can find each part, then add up what it really costs to move in.

How it is different from my Reading Utility Bills set: that one is the monthly bills that come after you move in. This set is the lease you sign before you move in, and what it costs on move-in day.

What's included:

• A teacher page: why I made it, how to use both levels, and the skills covered

• Words to know: 10 key words, each with a picture

• 3 pages of practice documents: a two-page apartment lease and a move-in cost sheet with a before-you-sign checklist. All businesses, names, and numbers are made up.

• 12 Level A questions, each with a picture and three answer choices

• The same 12 questions at Level B, with open answers and room to show the math

• A real-life task: make a one-page lease summary card for the refrigerator

• An answer key that shows where to find each answer

How I use it: Read through the practice documents together, then give each student the level that fits. Both levels ask the same questions, so the whole class can check answers together. I use the real-life task as a wrap-up or right before a community outing.

Skills covered: finding the rent, due date, grace period, and late fee; reading the lease term (start and end dates); security deposit and how to get it back; which utilities are included and which the tenant pays; pet rules, pet deposit, and pet rent; normal repairs vs. emergencies; adding up move-in costs.

Part of the Functional Life Skills series: every set uses the same layout (words, real-looking documents, two levels of the same questions, and a real-life task), so students know the routine when you move to the next set.

Pairs well with:

• Reading a Pay Stub (checking that the rent fits the paycheck)

• Job Application Practice Pack (more practice reading and filling in forms)

Who it is for: high school life skills and special education classes, transition programs for ages 18 to 21, and adult education. Grades 9 to 12 and adult transition.

What you download: one printable PDF, 11 pages, US Letter. Answer key included.

From the author of The Transition Map (Jeremy D. Gooch), available in paperback and Kindle.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education. All businesses, names, and numbers are made up.