Gen Zer Presented With Contract to Keep Living at Home—Or Pay $500 a Month

A college student, 22-year-old Kayla from Alabama, discovered a contract in her bedroom that stipulated she must live at home or pay $500 a month in rent. This contract, replete with rules, is not uncommon in the United States where a record number of adults aged 35 and under have returned to live with their parents due to soaring living costs.

According to a 2025 report, almost one in three young adults—25.2 million—were residing with their parents, a figure higher than during the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant proportion of these adults, estimated at 70 percent, are employed, according to Realtor.com, underscoring the impact of high rent prices and property values on the trend of young people living at home.

The contract, presented like a lease agreement, outlined numerous expectations for Kayla, ranging from maintaining cleanliness to adhering to a strict curfew. While some rules seemed reasonable, such as replacing consumed food or drink or prohibiting smoking, others, like the curfew and restrictions on overnight guests, drew criticism.

Kayla expressed that the contract felt unnecessary, given her diligent cleaning habits, and questioned the rationale behind the curfew, especially considering her active work schedule and preference for privacy. She acknowledged that some rules were fair but felt the majority were excessive, particularly those limiting her partner's overnight stays.

Despite rarely being at home, Kayla was expected to perform household chores and take care of her mother's dog, a situation she found perplexing. She hypothesized that her mother's intent might have been to motivate her to move out or rent a separate space but was determined to do so by December at the latest. The TikTok community reacted similarly, debating whether the contract was a pragmatic measure or an intrusive attempt at control.