{"id":7654,"date":"2026-08-03T21:44:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T01:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=7654"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:44:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T01:44:42","slug":"can-they-do-that-bay-area-landlords-200-monthly-work-from-home-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/can-they-do-that-bay-area-landlords-200-monthly-work-from-home-fee\/","title":{"rendered":"Can They Do That? Bay Area Landlord\u2019s $200 Monthly Work-From-Home Fee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A one-bedroom rental listing in Walnut Creek\u2019s upscale Northgate neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area was deleted after it caused an international flurry of online outrage. (It\u2019s not known if the pushback led the owner to take the listing down from Rent.com<\/em>, where it was published.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People took to the message boards, expressing strong reactions about the work-from-home fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to the landlord\u2019s fee, one commenter quipped, \u201cWhat else did you expect?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to actually occupy<\/em> the space you\u2019re paying $3,250 a month for,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the accessory dwelling unit (square footage: 535) was listed for that much. Notably, electricity and internet were included in the rent price, as were water, heat, and air conditioning costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sympathy for the Landlord Shows a Divide Between Owners and Renters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some wondered why the landlord would impose a fee for what seems an arbitrary reason. After all, the monthly internet cost would likely be the same whether a prospective renter worked at home or not. Even though a remote worker uses the home internet connection more, in most cases, that doesn\u2019t mean the service costs more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But others said they could see the property owner\u2019s point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Property owners themselves have to work in an inflationary environment. Some are concerned that rent caps in their cities aren\u2019t allowing them to cover these extra costs. And renters who plan to use their home as their workplace tend to have needs and expectations that can impose extra costs on the owners, right? That is, someone who works from home is likely to use more water, electricity, and internet bandwidth. Some commenters pointed out that a renter might not pay attention to how much their usage is costing the owner if there\u2019s no extra charge. Moreover, some noted that having to pay the property owner $2,400 per year could be cheaper than having to commute to work every day. At least the Bay Area advertisement did follow California\u2019s requirement that rental listings clearly state any extra fees along with the base monthly rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charging extra fees is legal. That said, federal fair housing provisions must be followed. Property owners should be careful to avoid discriminating. For example, people who work from home may use utilities heavily, but so may people who stay at home to raise kids, people who use special health equipment, homebound seniors, and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a renter works from home because of a disability, they may be entitled to an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This right to a reasonable teleworking accommodation<\/a> has been in place since 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that said, it\u2019s not unusual for owners of apartment buildings or condominiums to bar their residents from commercial activities. Seen in this light, an extra fee for working from home is not out of line. But it does underscore the way rental costs are rising. At a time when the spread of AI applications is pushing electricity demand higher, work-from-home surcharges could catch on. As more people work from home, extra charges for remote work could become common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If You\u2019re an Investor-Owner, How Will Your Renter\u2019s Work-From-Home Status Impact You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small landlords are concerned about how their renters\u2019 hybrid and work-from-home arrangements affect them. Here are a few points to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n