Chaska Community Land Trust

The Chaska Community Land Trust Ground Lease: Rights, Responsibilities & Requirements

The ground lease describes the long-term agreement between the Chaska Community Land Trust and the CCLT homeowner. This ground lease spells out their rights, responsibilities, and requirements, as a homeowner. By signing the ground lease, they are agreeing with the Chaska Community Land Trust that long-term homeownership is one of their goals.

Responsibility to Community
The homeowner has the right to use the land in a reasonable way:
This includes not damaging the land, not creating disturbances for their neighbors or the public at large, and using the land primarily for residential proposes.

Inheritance
The homeowner has the right to leave their home to their immediate family or partner as long as they live in the home.

Landscape
The homeowner is responsible for maintaining the property so that it is safe and decent. Like any homeowner, they have a right to make improvements to their yard (for example, planting trees, gardening, etc.)

Ground Lease Fee and Property Taxes
The homeowner has a responsibility to pay a $25 monthly fee to the Chaska CLT to help cover its operating costs - an amount far below what it would cost to pay for the land. The homeowner is also responsible for paying for all real estate taxes on their home and the land it sits on.

Home Improvements
The homeowner agrees to seek permission from and provide information to the Chaska Community Land Trust before making any capital improvements or major remodeling to their home.

Loans
No loan for any improvements (either interior or exterior) can be tied to (secured by) the land under the home, because the homeowner does not own the land.

Owner Occupancy
The home is the homeowner's primary residence; they must live in it at least eight months of each year. In addition, they may not sub-let their home.

Solving Problems
The homeowner agrees to work out any disputes that may arise between them and the Chaska Community Land Trust through arbitration, which involves impartial mediators instead of lawyers and judges.

Community Involvement
The homeowner has the opportunity to be active member of the Chaska Community Land Trust for as long as they are a homeowner.

Future Affordability
Should the homeowner ever decide to sell their home, they will work with the Chaska Community Land Trust to ensure that their home will remain affordable for future low to moderate income families by giving the Chaska Community Land Trust the first option to purchase it for a price which future low to moderate income families can afford.