An American mother has faced heavy criticism after she admitted to asking her five-year-old daughter to pay rent.

Essence Evans posted on Facebook about the unorthodox scheme, saying she's using it as a way to teach her daughter financial responsibility.

"Every week she gets $7 in allowance... I make her give me $5 back. $1 for rent, $1 for water, $1 for electricity, $1 for cable and $1 for food," Ms Evans wrote.

"The other $2 she gets to save or do what she wants with."