US Landlord's Request for Extra Fee from Remote Workers Sparks Debate

A landlord in California, US, has sparked a debate on social media by asking remote workers to pay an extra $200 per month. The landlord claims that remote workers increase the utility bills, such as heating, electricity, and water. A 50-square-meter house in the San Francisco Bay Area is being rented out for $3,250 per month, including utilities, internet, heating, and cooling. The listing states that remote workers will be charged an extra $200 per month. On social media, some users found this practice unnecessary and unfair, while others argued that remote workers' presence at home all day could increase utility consumption. Meanwhile, many users questioned how the landlord would monitor whether tenants are working from home. As remote work becomes more common in the US following the COVID-19 pandemic, charging extra fees to remote workers is not yet a widespread practice nationwide.