Reading a Simple Lease: Rent, Deposits and Move-In Costs for Life Skills, Ages 14 to 21

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.

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.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.