What legal forms would we use for this situation?

Question

I have a room that I am renting out in my house at a discounted rate in exchange for them to serve as a maid to clean my house, "Live In Maid". Because I am not paying them I am hoping they are not an employee, more of a renter... How does this work? And what forms do I need to protect myself?

Answer 1

You are describing barter, the act of trading goods or services. Both of you have to put a dollar value on your service and count it as income.

Answer 2

Better to have a contract to prevent later argument about the "value" of service.