A Landlord in the US State of California Demanded an Additional Fee of $ 200 Per Month for Tenants Working From Home

A landlord in the US state of California demanded an additional fee of $200 per month from tenants working from home. While the application attracted reaction on social media, some users argued that remote workers increased expenses such as electricity, water and heating. Requesting an additional fee of $200 per month for tenants working from home in the US state of California created controversy on social media.

A detached house of approximately 50 square meters in the San Francisco Bay Area is rented for $3,250 per month, including electricity, water, heating, air conditioning and internet. However, it was noteworthy that the demanded an additional fee of $200 from tenants working from home. The ad drew reaction from Reddit users.

While some users described the application as "crazy" and "absurd", they argued that the additional fee was requested only to get more money from the tenant. One user criticized the app, stating that working from home is unlikely to increase bills by $200. Some Reddit users argued that the use of electricity, water, air conditioning and heating may increase due to home workers being at home throughout the day. One user stated that working from home increased his bills, while another stated that additional costs may arise due to running the air conditioner or heater throughout the day.

Users on the platform where the ad was placed also questioned how the landlord would determine whether the tenant was working from home. While remote working has become widespread in the USA after the COVID-19 outbreak, it is being discussed whether charging additional fees to tenants working from home will be more common in the future. However, it is stated that the practice is not yet widespread across the country.

Christopher Williams, a remote worker living in Chicago, told ABC 7 that he had never encountered a "work from home fee" before. It was stated that the property, located in the Northgate neighborhood in the city of Walnut Creek, where the rental house is located, is an outbuilding on the land where the main residence is located.