Landlord Charges Extra for Working from Home
Written by DJ Sight on July 24, 2026
A rental listing for a newly built, furnished one-bedroom ADU in Walnut Creek, California, has gone viral because it includes an unusual clause: tenants who work from home must pay an additional $200 per month. The unit rents for $3,250 per month, with utilities and Wi-Fi included.
The fee sparked criticism from renters, many of whom said they had never encountered a work-from-home surcharge and called it “crazy” or “ridiculous,” especially given the Bay Area’s already high housing costs.
Housing experts, however, said the fee may be legally permissible.
The landlord did not respond to requests for comment, and many renters expressed hope that the practice does not become a trend.
New rental trend? A $200 ‘work-from-home fee’ tacked on to Bay Area lease – ABC7 San Francisco
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