🏡 Tenants Working From Home: Is the “Zoom Backdrop” the New Curb Appeal?
Last week, I was on a viewing with a couple eyeing up a smart one-bedroom apartment. They both worked from home on set days and liked to overlap one day a week. Naturally, this raised a few eyebrows (and laughs) as they joked about what would happen when they were both on a call at the same time — classic WFH clash.
But beyond the logistics, there was a clear, unspoken pressure: the flat needed to look good. Not just feel nice — but present well. Their background would be seen by colleagues, clients, maybe even thousands of followers if content creation was involved. That puts new weight on rental aesthetics, layout, lighting, and finishes.
At Jeremy Jacob, we’re seeing more tenants who build their entire lifestyle around working from home. For many — especially content creators and remote professionals — the apartment isn’t just a place to live; it’s a workspace, a set, a personal brand statement.
And that changes everything.
Tenants are placing more demand on the condition, design, and functionality of their homes. If you’re spending all day, every day in the same four walls, those walls need to do more. That inevitably means more wear and tear — which, landlords, you guessed it, means higher long-term costs. And so, perhaps it's no surprise that better design and functionality might come with a higher rent.
So while WFH does come with perks (no commute, flexibility, lunch from your own fridge), the true cost might be showing up in places you don’t expect — like your monthly rent.
Let’s flip it: remember when the workplace was the one footing the bill for wear and tear? Imagine using the company shower daily, grabbing subsidised meals in the canteen, lounging in communal breakout rooms. Now, those resources can sit unused — unless, of course, you're the breed heading into the office every day. You might not have the trendiest flat, but you’ve got a sanctuary that’s not expected to double up as a studio, an office, and a yoga room.
So who’s really winning?
The tenant with the photogenic apartment and high-spec backdrop — or the one who commutes, clocks off, and returns home to a place that doesn’t have to impress anyone?
