If you saw this listing on Craigslist, would you jump at the opportunity to live there?

Well-located office that can double as living space available immediately. One half-bath, one to three potential bedrooms, no kitchen but a small refrigerator is included. Prime location with fantastic view of Capitol, just floors above a number of eating options and blocks away from a number of restaurants and bars. Orange Line Metro just a block away. No rent, no credit check, no references. You just need to get elected to the House of Representatives.

If you’re Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.), welcome home.

Think Progress yesterday followed up on an ABC story and Politico scoop from November about Chaffetz, a freshman representative from Utah who will shun a temporary apartment in Washington and opt instead for living in his Longworth office. (Chaffetz first came to our attention with his strident opposition to legislation that would grant both D.C. and Utah an additional seat in the House.) According to the ABC report, Chaffetz isn’t a fiscal conservative just in theory, but also in practice. “I’m trying to live the example that it doesn’t take big dollars in order to get where we want to go,” Chaffetz said. “I can save my family $1,500 a month by sleeping on a cot in my office as opposed to getting a fancy place that’s maybe a little bit more comfortable.” He’s apparently not alone — 40 other members of the House are said to live where they work.

We’ve long known that the District and the surrounding area aren’t terribly affordable, especially when it comes to finding a good one-bedroom apartment. (What about a group house, Rep. Chaffetz? Rep. George Miller, Rep. Bill Delahunt, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Charles Schumer share a particularly infamous one on the Hill.) And we do respect Chaffetz for not being like the many other members of Congress who have bought homes in the District and illegally taken advantage of a local homestead tax exemption.

We are curious to see how long he can stick this out. Sure, there’s a free shower in the basement and all, but it may only be a few weeks before he becomes known as the guy who walks the halls in a robe and no shower shoes. Can’t he couch-surf? He’s got 177 Republican colleagues, and at least some of the Blue Dog Dems would probably put him up. Or maybe some of those 40 other office-sleepers would totally go in on an awesome Columbia Heights group house. They’d be the coolest house in all the House.

Image of the Longworth House Office Building from house.gov