A Growing Area of Real Estate: Religious Organizations as Landlords

Transactions involving these groups differ dramatically from typical commercial leases. Here’s how.

Churches and other religious organizations have some of the least used real estate of any property category. Meeting rooms, classrooms, and the sanctuary are usually left vacant during most of the week. Understandably, many organizations often consider how to monetize these infrequently used spaces by leasing them.

The target tenants are primarily private schools, charter schools, childcare operators, and smaller unaffiliated religious groups. The sanctuary and large meeting rooms can be leased for special events or regularly scheduled meetings. Problems occur when the tenant and the landlord (the religious organization that owns the property) don’t approach the use process as a business transaction...

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RSK: Some good ideas to consider here. I keep hearing the one Gospel quote "Give to Caesar what is Caesar`s and to God what is God`s" It fits, no matter how you construe it...