Craigslist ad offers 3ft by 10ft space for just $250 a month \u2013 for \u2018nerdy gamer\u2019 but nobody with a criminal record<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A California<\/a> \u201chome\u201d for rent is shining a light on the US housing crisis \u2013 and evoking Harry Potter\u2019s living situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For $250 a month, an online ad is offering the opportunity to reside in a 3ft by 10ft cubby located under the stairs of a one-bedroom apartment in downtown San Jose<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFits a cot perfectly,\u201d says the Cragislist ad<\/a> for the living space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room under the stairs resembles the one temporarily inhabited by the titular character of the fictional magical world depicted in the Harry Potter book series by JK Rowling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its appearance on the rental market illustrates the rising cost of living confronting Americans. A 2024 report\u2002<\/a>by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found that \u2013 as of 2022 \u2013 a record half of US renters paid more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities. And half of those people paid more than 50% of their income on rent and utilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average cost of rent for an apartment in San Jose is $3,132 \u2013 53% higher than the national average, according to data on Zillow<\/a>. So while far from ideal for most people, the room under the stairs is decidedly a bargain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pros for the listing include air conditioning and heat, cost of utilities, and gated parking. The cons as mentioned in the ad are chores, cleaning and being \u201ckind of in the ghetto\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want to rent it out to a nice nerdy gamer, don\u2019t care if male or female,\u201d the ad says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The landlord requires the future tenant not to have pets, addictions or a criminal record, according to the ad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, California law prohibits<\/a> landlords from having a policy denying rentals to people with a criminal record because of that record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n