Mom and Dad Turn Landlord

With more Millennials and Gen Zers living at home, some parents have started charging rent

- SOPHIE LLOYD

WHEN ERIKA AND CODY ARCHIE posted a video to TikTok explaining how they would be charging their then-18-year-old daughter Kylee rent, the reaction was split. One commenter called it a "punishment." Another said: "I don't see anything wrong with it. It helps them learn responsibility." While a third added: "Hell no, that's their home."

The footage ended up going viral, receiving over 700,000 views. Despite the mixed response, Cody is sure they've made the right decision. 

"This is our way of preparing her and making sure she knows that things aren't free," he tells Newsweek. "Part of becoming an adult is knowing that you have to either pay rent or you'll have a house payment. Our hope is that by doing all this, we're preparing her for the world." In the video, though, he was more blunt. "Two bucks a month is plenty cheap to live like a grub in your parents' house."

According to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, 58 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds are living with their parents. While staying at home has benefits for young people-such as allowing them to pay off their debts or save-having an extra person under their roof means higher costs for parents.

A recent poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek asked 1,500 U.S. adults their thoughts on parents charging their adult children rent. Around 57 percent said that a 20-something moving back home should pay for the privilege, even if their parents "do not need the money." Only 28 percent felt that adult children should live rent-free.

A study conducted by Lending Tree produced similar results. While 85 percent of parents surveyed said they'd let their adult children move home, 73 percent would charge them rent.