THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is made in conjunction with, and complementary to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy made of even date between RICHARD of the first part and YOU ("the Tenants") of the other part.

This document is intended merely as a statement of mutual commitment between Richard and the Tenants to forging and maintaining good relations for their mutual benefit.

Richard is the owner of the property known as the Cottage, which is situated within the grounds of The Mill, being the residence of Richard and his mother, Mrs S.

Richard is keen to foster an extended community relationship with the Tenants and hereby confirms his commitment to allowing them to enjoy the peaceful tranquillity of the Cottage. In return, he would ask them for help in the upkeep and preservation of The Mill and for general assistance to himself and his mother.

The Tenants hereby confirm their commitment to offering assistance to Richard and Mrs S in the following ways :-

a) To be part of the extended household. Although the Cottage is completely self-contained, Richard would welcome the opportunity to consider the Tenants as part of his extended household. For the sake of safety and security, Richard expects at least one of the Tenants to be present in or around the Cottage and hence ensure that Mrs S is never alone at The Mill during the hours of darkness, other than for brief periods of up to half-an-hour.

On any occasions when the Tenants would like to leave Mrs S alone for longer periods, they should obtain her prior agreement. If the period exceeds 90 minutes, they should also notify Richard by email. Similarly, if ever the Tenants would like to leave a trusted member of their family or friends to stand in for them, they should obtain Mrs S's prior agreement and to notify Richard by email.

Richard expects the Tenants to take up to four weeks' holiday per year. They should give him one month's notice by email so that he can arrange to be at The Mill whilst they are away. Similarly, Mrs S would like to take occasional holidays and Richard expects the Tenants not to leave The Mill unattended for more than four hours in daylight and two hours in darkness while she is away.

b) Provide transport. Richard expects each of the Tenants to maintain a suitable motor-car and to assist Richard and Mrs S in the provision of transport where necessary, running up to four errands (shopping, etc) for them per week.

c) Help around the house. Depending on circumstances and on the Tenants' own skills, Richard expects them to use their reasonable efforts to provide assistance of an adequate nature and amount. The following are examples of the kind of assistance that is normally required, but these are only general guidelines: other assistance will be needed as circumstances demand.

• Keeping all the paths around the house clear and safe
• Cutting back excess growth in summer
• Ensuring that Mrs S always has sufficient firewood in winter
• Ensuring that all the flood precautions are working: pumps, drains, gutters, stand-by generator, etc
• Reporting any shortages and things that are broken or need attention, and, wherever possible, proposing a solution
• Maintenance and repairs to the Cottage, including paying for materials etc. up to the value of £250 in any three-month period.
• General tidying up

d) To give adequate notice of leaving. Richard would not like the Tenants to leave without giving at least four months' notice. Furthermore, they should only leave between mid-April and mid-September.

Furthermore, Richard hereby confirms his commitment that if, at the end of each rental quarter, the Tenants have wholeheartedly kept to the letter and spirit of this agreement to Mrs S's complete satisfaction, then this memorandum will be signed to indicate that the Rent for that quarter has been waived.

By the signing of this memorandum Richard and the Tenants hereby confirm their commitment to forging and maintaining good relations for their mutual benefit, as set out above.