1440 Mercy St

About This Home

* Furnished back-yard cottage studio unit available for leases of 5 to 11 months. * Available September 8, 2026 Welcome to our little paradise! The French doors of this cute well-lit garden cottage open to a view of lavender, succulents, persimmons, strawberries, and vines. The front patio is perfect for morning yoga and evening wine, both of which pair well with the fluttering hummingbirds that feast on the plants! Get a great night's rest on the comfy queen bed, watch TV, and cook yourself a great meal in the kitchenette. Included in the rent are twice-per-month cleanings. Further details: The space Nestled in the back yard of a home in the Old Mountain neighborhood, providing great privacy, this delightful, bright, and furnished cottage has a perfect location: just a few minutes' walk to downtown Castro Street, Caltrain, the VTA light rail, and the pickup locations of numerous corporate shuttles, including the big G, LinkedIn, the big M, NASA, Symantec, etc. The main room has a queen-sized bed, a comfy couch, a dining nook, a smart TV, and a raised work desk with chairs. You can watch Netflix, Amazon, Hulu etc. via your own account. The French doors provide ample streams of sunshine, and the room itself is very well lit. The kitchenette has a toaster, coffee maker, bar fridge, and sink, as well as a convection microwave (instead of a traditional oven) and a tabletop induction hot plate (instead of a traditional stove). We can also provide an air fryer. While you can cook great meals using the hot plate, microwave, and optional air fryer, note that the kitchenette is small and not really equipped for gourmet cooking. Please also note that there is no dishwasher. The bathroom is spacious, with a large shower/tub and a sink, and a large skylight for maximum natural light. There is air conditioning -- a portable unit, vented through a window. Guest access You'll have complete and exclusive access to the cottage, including the main area, the bathroom, and the front patio. The driveway, the area leading to the cottage, the back yard, and the washer and dryer in the garage are shared with the residents of the front home -- us! You're always welcome to use the back yard barbecue, and when we entertain in the back yard (roughly monthly), we'd love to have you join us! We've met some of the most fascinating people and formed some cool connections with guests. That said, we have 100% respect for guest privacy, and we follow guest cues regarding interaction with them. Please note the following: - Included in the rental price are twice-monthly cleanings. - The cottage is in the back yard of another home. You have exclusive access to the entire cottage, including the main room, the kitchenette, and the bathroom. You share the backyard and the laundry machines (in the garage) with the occupants of the front home -- us! - The cottage has a *kitchenette*, not a full kitchen. In particular, there is no dishwasher. Also, instead of an oven, we provide a convection microwave, which enables you to do simple baking. Instead of a stove, we provide a tabletop induction hot plate, which enables you to do simple cooking. We can also provide an air fryer. The kitchen is neither equipped for nor large enough to make gourmet meals, but it works great for basic cooking. Many guests do all their cooking in the unit, while others order DoorDash / UberEats or take advantage of the proximity to Castro Street by dining out a lot. - The furnishings of the cottage include a queen-sized bed, a little work space / breakfast dining area, a comfy couch, a raised work desk with chairs, and a TV. - We ask for a $175 per month utility contribution (which covers high-speed Internet, water, gas, electricity, recycling, garbage, sewer, and lawn service) and $20 per month tenant insurance. Note that we're *not* looking for a long term lease; we want a 5 to 11 month. Qualifications: -- Verifiable income of 3.5X rent -- Credit score of 720+ -- Clear background and eviction check -- Landlord references -- One month deposit The application process is via Zillow, and we will sign a standard California Association of Realtors lease agreement. DRE 01404898