A Bay Area landlord’s listing details have left many outraged after the specifics of his newly built one-bedroom apartment trended for at least a full day across various social media platforms. People interviewed on Instagram in the area said, “That is just greedy,” while another called it “ridiculous.” The story has since spread well beyond its original audience, and the landlord is now facing backlash from pretty much every corner.
According to NBC, the landlord is charging $3,250 per month, with Wi-Fi included, which is fairly standard in the high-income, tech-dominated region. Notably, some of the worst homelessness crises in the United States are located in the Bay Area, so these prices do not work for everyone.
However, what this landlord suggested was something new. He is asking for an additional $200 per month if the tenant works from home. Perhaps the landlord has had previous tenants who consumed more utilities while working remotely, and because utilities are also included, he wants to account for that in the rent.
Reactions split along familiar lines
On X, the landlord received a little grace. One user wrote, “As soon as they said $200 for at-home work, I knew it was for utilities, which in California are the most expensive in the nation.” They then added, “Computers, AC in summer and heat in the winter running 24/7 in an ADU could easily add up to an additional $200 per month in this f–ked up state.”
As soon as they said $200 for at home work, I knew it was for utilities which in California are the most expensive in the nation.
— Steve L (@cmspet) July 23, 2026
Computers, AC in summer and heat in the winter running 24/7 in an ADU could easily add up to an additional $200 per month in this fucked up state.
On Instagram, however, people were much harsher. One user suggested, “Start mining crypto and let them foot the bill if it’s all included and they wanna charge for this and that.” Another added, “So now you have to disclose to your landlord what you do in the privacy of your home? Where does the line get drawn? As long as I am not doing anything illegal in your rental, it’s none of your business. K thanks bye.”
People disagreeing with their landlords is a tale as old as the concept of renting itself. Every month, courts throughout the country hear cases in which tenants believe landlords have overstepped and landlords believe they are being taken advantage of. It is also a topic that has dominated much of the first year of Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the other side of the country. So it is very likely that unique disputes involving people who work from home will continue to become more common.
The housing association called the fee reasonable
According to the California Post, the CEO of the East Bay Rental Housing Association, Derek Barnes, said the additional fee is completely reasonable because of remote workers’ presumed increase in utility consumption. “It’s almost like a utility cost recovery or environmental conservation fee,” Barnes said. “You’re not likely, you know, to be aware of your usage of these precious resources if you don’t see a bill.”
These are the kinds of issues that end up influencing people who are even willing to move to the region to pursue the once-coveted career in tech and may also end up influencing future local elections.
Published: Jul 25, 2026 09:30 am