The idea of contracts is too closely related to the social-psyche-family counseling idea about warring couples having to sign a contract about minimum standards of behavior, or unruly teenagers having to sign a contract that they would comply with their parents. To me, the idea of contracts is too manipulative. But, like I said, I think it could be handy for something very short term, like "I will let you live in my house, and I will provide abc, and you will do xyz, and we will talk in a few weeks/months".