‘Harry Potter cubby’ for rent in California could be yours for $250 and some housework
A Craigslist advertisement for an unusual living space highlights how impossible it can be to find housing in California’s Bay Area.
It showcases a 3-feet-by-10-feet “Harry Potter cubby” under the stairs of a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in San Jose that “fits a cot perfectly” and “can be blocked off, with some jury-rigging” all for $250 and some twice-weekly house chores.
The ad is titled: “$250 Harry Potter cubby for very cheap + light chores (San Jose downtown).” The apartment is in a unit on Fifth Street, not far from the San Jose State University campus.
“I want to rent it out to a nice nerdy gamer, don’t care if male or female,” the ad says.
Tenants “must not have a criminal record, any addictions, or pets.”
They also can’t have guests over — “ever (sorry bout that, but seriously, who’d want to come visit this place?)” the hopeful landlord writes in the ad.
It appears they hope to make up for that with “no restrictions on cooking, internet, kitchen use, bathroom use, etc.”
“To all intents and purposes, my appliances and utilities are your appliances and utilities,” the ad says. “Use my plates and silverware. Enjoy my TV and xbox! Paint your 40k minis at my table, with my paints (not my brushes though :p)!”
The ad urges interested tenants to contact them “if this all seems like something you’re interested in” and to include some personal information.
“Rent is $250 per month and you do some chores around the place twice a week, (not on weekends) downstairs only,” the ad says. “Based on my experience, takes about 30 minutes.”
The poster then lists six pros, which really read more like perks, and two cons, one about the aforementioned cleaning and one about the location of the apartment.
“Pros — Cheap; I’m a pretty good cook, and willing to share usually; Will share your love of nerd stuff; Air Conditioned and heated; Can run a D&D game for you” and finally the apartment offers gated parking.
The listing says the space is available to sublet on a monthly basis, and mentions that both the room and bathroom are not private, there is no laundry on site, and off-street parking is available.
“The man who placed the ad wanted to be identified only as Jason and acknowledged that his offer ‘is blatantly illegal,’” KTVU reported. “But he also said, given the high cost of housing, his options are limited.”
“It’s either that or I rent someone ELSE’S harry potter under-the-stairs cubby, and probably for significantly more,” he told the station in an email, sharing that he is a 40-year-old handyman.
The apartment is also apparently a “converted two-car garage that has no insulation” and is “in a high-crime neighborhood,” the station reported.
Jason told the station “he’s received a high amount of interest” — about 30 inquiries since he posted the ad on Sept. 4 — as well as “a few nasty comments.”
