If you can get the domain transferred to your name (or the login to adminis= ter the domain) by co-operative means this would be best.
I run a local community web site with the domain registered through Fasthos= ts and free hosting using x10hosting. This works well, but note that the f= ree x10hosting service only support email redirection for 3 addresses @ you= r domain with no catch-all.
If you use a free hosting service, make sure you transfer the domain to x10= hosting as well to ensure the correct address appears in browsers. My part= icular reason for advising this is that I delayed doing this and had my web= site blacklisted by Facebook since as well as legitimate users of free hos= ting services there are also spammers using them.
HTH!
David.