Rental Policy
Friends House is the meeting place of the Toronto Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and a valuable resource for the local and national Quaker community. The renting out of rooms at affordable rates is considered a means of supporting the testimonies and social witness which are commensurate with the Quaker faith and tradition. Friends House is offered as an affordable, peaceful meeting space to a wide range of groups.
Rental fees are set to contribute to the upkeep of the house and to manage availability. Toronto Monthly Meeting does not seek to profit from the rental of Friends House. Groups with especially constrained budgets may apply for a reduction.
Booking requests are fielded and managed by Friends House staff. Groups and particular events are approved or not approved based on how closely their aims are in accordance with Quaker testimonies, and also how closely in accord are their means to attain these aims. Groups are required to provide information for, sign for and be cleared for individual events. If there is uncertainty around a particular request, the matter is referred to a clearing committee. The entire clearing process may take up to two weeks.
In some cases, decisions around clearing particular groups or events may involve complex considerations. Because Toronto Monthly Meeting is a community of volunteers, this process can take a lot of time, and there may not be adequate resources available to quickly clear requests that are made very close to the requested date. Other persons, organizations and communities who have more experience with a particular issue may need to be consulted. When making rental requests, it is best to give as much notice as possible.
Charging an admission or registration fee, or requesting donations for an event is acceptable, but where appropriate, groups should make provision for persons with limited incomes. For situations where Toronto Monthly Meeting would like to participate or observe (for example, as part of the clearing process), groups must provide space for a member of the Quaker community without cost.
Joint meetings with other groups are welcomed and encouraged, but other groups (who are not involved in the booking process) must be approved through the same clearing process.
Bookings of eight or more consecutive dates are considered “long term bookings”, and must be brought to TMM’s Meeting for Worship for Business, to be reviewed by the community. Long term booking requests are rarely approved because they prevent use of the House by the Quaker community, and reduce the diversity of groups that are supported. Meeting for Worship for Business generally happens on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Friends House staff have a wide range of responsibilities and may not be able to respond immediately to the needs of a rental group. Friends House is a busy place where a number of people work, study, meet and play. All users of Friends House are expected to be respectful and flexible in accommodating the needs of others.
No pets are allowed in Friends House except service animals. No firearms are permitted on the premises. No smoking or alcohol is permitted on the premises, including the front yard, the back yard, and the garden.
All renters must agree to the Friends House Terms and Conditions before submitting a booking request.
Rental fees are set to contribute to the upkeep of the house and to manage availability. Toronto Monthly Meeting does not seek to profit from the rental of Friends House. Groups with especially constrained budgets may apply for a reduction.
Booking requests are fielded and managed by Friends House staff. Groups and particular events are approved or not approved based on how closely their aims are in accordance with Quaker testimonies, and also how closely in accord are their means to attain these aims. Groups are required to provide information for, sign for and be cleared for individual events. If there is uncertainty around a particular request, the matter is referred to a clearing committee. The entire clearing process may take up to two weeks.
In some cases, decisions around clearing particular groups or events may involve complex considerations. Because Toronto Monthly Meeting is a community of volunteers, this process can take a lot of time, and there may not be adequate resources available to quickly clear requests that are made very close to the requested date. Other persons, organizations and communities who have more experience with a particular issue may need to be consulted. When making rental requests, it is best to give as much notice as possible.
Charging an admission or registration fee, or requesting donations for an event is acceptable, but where appropriate, groups should make provision for persons with limited incomes. For situations where Toronto Monthly Meeting would like to participate or observe (for example, as part of the clearing process), groups must provide space for a member of the Quaker community without cost.
Joint meetings with other groups are welcomed and encouraged, but other groups (who are not involved in the booking process) must be approved through the same clearing process.
Bookings of eight or more consecutive dates are considered “long term bookings”, and must be brought to TMM’s Meeting for Worship for Business, to be reviewed by the community. Long term booking requests are rarely approved because they prevent use of the House by the Quaker community, and reduce the diversity of groups that are supported. Meeting for Worship for Business generally happens on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Friends House staff have a wide range of responsibilities and may not be able to respond immediately to the needs of a rental group. Friends House is a busy place where a number of people work, study, meet and play. All users of Friends House are expected to be respectful and flexible in accommodating the needs of others.
No pets are allowed in Friends House except service animals. No firearms are permitted on the premises. No smoking or alcohol is permitted on the premises, including the front yard, the back yard, and the garden.
All renters must agree to the Friends House Terms and Conditions before submitting a booking request.