New York City’s “Worst Apartment Ever” Tour Goes Viral With 20M People Getting Surprised By How Bad It Is
Interview
If you think that living in London’s tiny and cramped apartments is bad, wait till you’ve gone apartment hunting in New York—you ain’t seen nothing yet!
The co-founders of the New York City Realtor TikTok account shared a now-viral set of videos where they toured the “Worst Apartment Ever” in NYC. It’s minuscule. It’s darn expensive. And it’s making us pity New Yorkers a bit too hard.
Just like us, you’re probably thinking, “Wait a minute… where’s the bathroom?” Well, that’s the hilarious thing—there’s no toilet or shower in the apartment. In fact, the bathroom situation needed its very own TikTok video to detail how absurd things are. Ready to feel extremely happy about your current living situation, no matter where you are? Let’s go!
The New York City Realtor TikTok account is run by co-founder and creator Cameron Knowlton and co-founder Tatum Kelly. In an interview with Bored Panda, the pair drew attention to the fact that they don’t set the prices of the apartments and, in this case, don’t represent the landlord. They’ve got some great videos lined up in the future, so be sure to follow their channel, @newyorkcityrealtor, on TikTok. In the meantime, read on for their insights about the apartment situation in NYC and for their awesome videos. At the time of writing, the “Worst Apartment Ever” video has over a whopping 20 million views.
Cameron and Tatum toured a New York City apartment that is so tiny, Harry Potter would invite you to stay over in his cupboard under the stairs
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
It’s extremely small and so expensive, it really isn’t worth your hard-earned cash
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
The apartment lacks the basic necessities. Like an oven… or a bathroom!
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
“The landlord sent us their availability and when we saw the price point for the location we knew we had to go see it. Believe it or not, before the virus this building was usually at full occupancy. While COVID has affected occupancy and pricing, there are still tons of people looking to move. This past November, usually one of the slowest months of the year, had a record number of leases signed,” Cameron and Tatum explained to Bored Panda.
It’s no secret that New York is one of the most expensive cities in the entire world. According to the duo, for context, “to qualify for an apartment, tenants are expected to make 40X the monthly rent on an annual basis.” Mind-boggling? Mind-boggling!
“This apartment is very inexpensive for NY. However, it is ‘The Worst Apartment’ because it’s not a good deal compared to other options in the city that are just a couple hundred more,” the co-founders of the New York City Realtor TikTok account said, also sharing some great advice on where to get a bargain. “The further north, the better the value. So the Upper East Side and Upper West Side will get you the most bang for your buck. Outside of Manhattan, parts of the other boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens can be more affordable.”
While New York apartments tend to be far smaller than in the rest of the US and other parts of the world, this particular apartment was the smallest one that Cameron and Tatum have ever seen.
“The location is the main reason the apartment is priced as expensive as it is, given the size. NY is a densely populated city with incredibly high demand.”
Need to use the bathroom? You’re going to have to leave your apartment and share the toilet with your neighbors
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
The same goes for the shower! Hope you like waiting in line every time you want to feel civilized
Image credits: newyorkcityrealtor
Check out the full version of the first TikTok video right here
@newyorkcityrealtor##apartmenttherapy ##westvillage ##apartmenthunting ##luxuryapartmentsnyc ##nycapartment ##fyp♬ original sound – New York City Realtor
And here’s the follow-up that shows the bathroom situation
@newyorkcityrealtor##apartmenthunting ##apartmenttherapy ##luxuryapartmentsnyc ##westvillage ##realestateagent ##part2♬ original sound – New York City Realtor
The initial video got over a whopping 2.6 million likes, was reshared 113.9k times, and got more than 41.2k comments on TikTok. Yes, it’s a real apartment. Yes, it’s so tiny, even Harry Potter’s cupboard under the Dursleys’ stairs seems roomier. And, yes, at 1,650 dollars per month, it’s totally not worth the price tag.
To be fair, the apartment does look clean and tidy. But for that price, you’d expect chandeliers and at least one or two butlers/maids at your door, even if proper legroom is out of the question.
Sure, you could call the apartment ‘quaint’ and see the upside that you’d get to know your neighbors really well while waiting in line with them to use the communal bathroom.
But let’s be honest, if you’re paying that much money each month, you’re certainly not a student and not a starving artist. If you’ve got $1,650 to spend on rent each month, at least go for something that has a normal kitchen. And your very own bathroom that you won’t have to share with your neighbors during a global pandemic! Or you could move out of NYC and get a ranch somewhere out in the countryside, far away from all the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Business Insider points out that New York City has a booming job market and the world’s largest urban economy which both lead to high prices, as well as wealthy residents. However, there’s a flip side to this. 1.5 million New Yorkers live below the poverty line which means that they have to either live in low-quality apartments, far away from their jobs which makes commuting to work a nightmare, or they end up spending far too much of their hard-earned cash on rent.
New York City might be called The Big Apple, but when you’re done paying your landlord, odds are, you might not be able to afford a large bag of fruit.
Here’s what people have been saying about the apartment situation in NYC after watching the two videos
How is that whole situation even legal? Having no toilet or shower in that closet of so-called apartment, and having to share with others. How is that sanitary in that condition?
The landlord isn't required to make it sanitary. It just needs to be provided. The sanitation is up to the user(s).
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During reading this all the time I was like "ok, I wonder how other rooms look like" Only to realize the horrific truth at the end. ʘꞈʘ̻
Wtf I've seen bigger apartments in the middle of Tokyo then that over gloried walk in closet with mini fridge
Exactly! Just to be curious, I looked to see what that same rent would get you in my state here in US....the difference is INCREDIBLE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13108-Woodland-Farm-Dr-Charlotte-NC-28215/6217461_zpid/?
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Imagine, needing the toilet, seeing the "guy" from down the hall coming out, saying, "Whew! Better wait for the air to clear before using".
Looks like 19th century new york tenements are still alive and well the only difference is indoor plumbing vs outhouses and a water spigot out back for washing, cooking, laundry etc.
There's no need to live like that. But you DO have to be willing to see a ton of places. And they aren't going to be perfect. A floor that slants a bit. Small (but this is insane). I lived in NYC in a studio apt (that's one main room) with a small, but full bath and a small but full kitchen (the fridge/freezer was small, but still a full appliance, not mini). I lived on the Upper East Side which is incredibly expensive, but also a bit safer. My building did not have a doorman, but I lived between two that did and I made friends with those doormen, so I had someone looking out for me a little bit. I paid 1,800/month. INSANE!!! But only a tiny bit more than this and a totally different living experience. Just gotta put in the work.
That's messed up! How is this humane? Makes me appreciate my camp kitchen basement I've been living in for almost four years. Ugh!
No thanks. I don't want to live in NYC that badly. 1650 would get you a palace of an apartment in many other cities.
For that amount of money you could get *this* beautiful apartment in Toronto AND afford some utility costs, plus you get health insurance thrown in for free because it's in Canada: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/464-Cosburn-Ave-Toronto-ON-M4J-2N4/2060766136_zpid/
This actually strikes me as the kind of apartment a commuter business person might have as a secondary residence if they have to stay overnight in the city a lot.
We have 1,756 sq ft 3/2 and our smallest bedroom is bigger than that. Why would anyone be willing to live in that?
My closet is bigger than that. And my mortgage is a lot less. This would make me crazy.
That's not an apartment or a studio. It's a rented room with shared facilities! Yuck!
Exactly. A lot of students live like that in my country, I did too. But I never paid more than 400 euros for such a room. 1650 dollar is totally ridiculous...!
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They need to work on the rental laws in NYC. In a lot of places that would not be legal to rent as an apartment.
I can’t believe things like this even exist. I’m from rural Australia and that unit would be a storage closet in my house. We have so much room here - inside and out, but we take it for granted so much and forget how amazing we have it.
If you think this is the worst apartment in New York, you have not looked at very many.
lived in similar place right after leaving home. for most part, bathroom issues wasn't too bad as every one in 4 apt building were very considerate of sharing w/each person cleaning it after use of shower/commode/sink. however, the bathroom mirror was another story. still, very uncomfortable using communal facilities
Don't bother renting it. Look elsewhere. I rent a full, two bedroom apartment in NYC, with my own private entrance, Metro North, the subway, and 4 main bus lines are no more than 2 blocks away. I also have a view of of a river. I have been here for 20 years. My rent is still under $1100 monthly. I guess I'm spoiled.
Around 30 years ago, I visited a friend from high school who was going to NYU. She had a large studio that had two platforms with mattresses that acted as bedrooms for my friend and her roommate, a small water closet with a sink and toilet, a small kitchen with a bathtub/shower. My friend and her roomie were paying $600 a piece not including utilities per month. They thought it was a steal at the time.
That is obscene. Those old buildings had huge apartments. The company that did the renovations to chop those rooms up into smaller suites was clearly doing them for a criminally greedy owner. That is technically a closet with a window. No bathroom means it is not inhabitable. The owner of this building should be forced to renovate to make these suites into actual apartments, especially at that price.
New York has always had places this size. They were typically hotels, not apartments, but people lived in them full-time, so that's just a technicality. They are called SROs (Single Room Occupancy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_room_occupancy
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By the people who can afford the apartments that are $4,000 a month rather than $1,650 like this one.
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Obviously 3rd world countries are worse, so it doesn't make sense to make a comparison.
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People who rent apartments like that must be nuts. $1650 would cover nearly 4 months mortgage on my house!
I feel like that’s nuts. I don’t think I could live somewhere where the mortgage or rent was only $415. Not unless it was an investment property / total remodel. That’s squalor / deep poverty or living in a very rural area, or both.
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What the actual f**k? In Prague, you could get flats like these for less than $1650 (35 000 CZK) per month → https://www.sreality.cz/detail/pronajem/byt/2+kk/praha-holesovice-na-maninach/2888035420#img=4&fullscreen=false → https://www.sreality.cz/detail/pronajem/byt/4+kk/praha-nove-mesto-/846183772#img=0&fullscreen=false
This is a super dumb comment. This article exists because the apartment is so bad. In your mind, it didn’t automatically follow that other apartments in NYC are much different / better?
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Yep, everyone’s a sheep and BRETT fuçking CONNOR of Nowhereville Alabama is privy to the secret knowledge that makes him not a sheep. Trashy.
Load More Replies... 
What commonwealth spelling are you talking about?
Load More Replies... How is that whole situation even legal? Having no toilet or shower in that closet of so-called apartment, and having to share with others. How is that sanitary in that condition?
The landlord isn't required to make it sanitary. It just needs to be provided. The sanitation is up to the user(s).
Load More Replies... During reading this all the time I was like "ok, I wonder how other rooms look like" Only to realize the horrific truth at the end. ʘꞈʘ̻
Wtf I've seen bigger apartments in the middle of Tokyo then that over gloried walk in closet with mini fridge
Exactly! Just to be curious, I looked to see what that same rent would get you in my state here in US....the difference is INCREDIBLE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13108-Woodland-Farm-Dr-Charlotte-NC-28215/6217461_zpid/?
Load More Replies... Imagine, needing the toilet, seeing the "guy" from down the hall coming out, saying, "Whew! Better wait for the air to clear before using".
Looks like 19th century new york tenements are still alive and well the only difference is indoor plumbing vs outhouses and a water spigot out back for washing, cooking, laundry etc.
There's no need to live like that. But you DO have to be willing to see a ton of places. And they aren't going to be perfect. A floor that slants a bit. Small (but this is insane). I lived in NYC in a studio apt (that's one main room) with a small, but full bath and a small but full kitchen (the fridge/freezer was small, but still a full appliance, not mini). I lived on the Upper East Side which is incredibly expensive, but also a bit safer. My building did not have a doorman, but I lived between two that did and I made friends with those doormen, so I had someone looking out for me a little bit. I paid 1,800/month. INSANE!!! But only a tiny bit more than this and a totally different living experience. Just gotta put in the work.
That's messed up! How is this humane? Makes me appreciate my camp kitchen basement I've been living in for almost four years. Ugh!
No thanks. I don't want to live in NYC that badly. 1650 would get you a palace of an apartment in many other cities.
For that amount of money you could get *this* beautiful apartment in Toronto AND afford some utility costs, plus you get health insurance thrown in for free because it's in Canada: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/464-Cosburn-Ave-Toronto-ON-M4J-2N4/2060766136_zpid/
This actually strikes me as the kind of apartment a commuter business person might have as a secondary residence if they have to stay overnight in the city a lot.
We have 1,756 sq ft 3/2 and our smallest bedroom is bigger than that. Why would anyone be willing to live in that?
My closet is bigger than that. And my mortgage is a lot less. This would make me crazy.
That's not an apartment or a studio. It's a rented room with shared facilities! Yuck!
Exactly. A lot of students live like that in my country, I did too. But I never paid more than 400 euros for such a room. 1650 dollar is totally ridiculous...!
Load More Replies... They need to work on the rental laws in NYC. In a lot of places that would not be legal to rent as an apartment.
I can’t believe things like this even exist. I’m from rural Australia and that unit would be a storage closet in my house. We have so much room here - inside and out, but we take it for granted so much and forget how amazing we have it.
If you think this is the worst apartment in New York, you have not looked at very many.
lived in similar place right after leaving home. for most part, bathroom issues wasn't too bad as every one in 4 apt building were very considerate of sharing w/each person cleaning it after use of shower/commode/sink. however, the bathroom mirror was another story. still, very uncomfortable using communal facilities
Don't bother renting it. Look elsewhere. I rent a full, two bedroom apartment in NYC, with my own private entrance, Metro North, the subway, and 4 main bus lines are no more than 2 blocks away. I also have a view of of a river. I have been here for 20 years. My rent is still under $1100 monthly. I guess I'm spoiled.
Around 30 years ago, I visited a friend from high school who was going to NYU. She had a large studio that had two platforms with mattresses that acted as bedrooms for my friend and her roommate, a small water closet with a sink and toilet, a small kitchen with a bathtub/shower. My friend and her roomie were paying $600 a piece not including utilities per month. They thought it was a steal at the time.
That is obscene. Those old buildings had huge apartments. The company that did the renovations to chop those rooms up into smaller suites was clearly doing them for a criminally greedy owner. That is technically a closet with a window. No bathroom means it is not inhabitable. The owner of this building should be forced to renovate to make these suites into actual apartments, especially at that price.
New York has always had places this size. They were typically hotels, not apartments, but people lived in them full-time, so that's just a technicality. They are called SROs (Single Room Occupancy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_room_occupancy
Load More Replies... By the people who can afford the apartments that are $4,000 a month rather than $1,650 like this one.
Load More Replies... Obviously 3rd world countries are worse, so it doesn't make sense to make a comparison.
Load More Replies... People who rent apartments like that must be nuts. $1650 would cover nearly 4 months mortgage on my house!
I feel like that’s nuts. I don’t think I could live somewhere where the mortgage or rent was only $415. Not unless it was an investment property / total remodel. That’s squalor / deep poverty or living in a very rural area, or both.
Load More Replies... What the actual f**k? In Prague, you could get flats like these for less than $1650 (35 000 CZK) per month → https://www.sreality.cz/detail/pronajem/byt/2+kk/praha-holesovice-na-maninach/2888035420#img=4&fullscreen=false → https://www.sreality.cz/detail/pronajem/byt/4+kk/praha-nove-mesto-/846183772#img=0&fullscreen=false
This is a super dumb comment. This article exists because the apartment is so bad. In your mind, it didn’t automatically follow that other apartments in NYC are much different / better?
Load More Replies... Yep, everyone’s a sheep and BRETT fuçking CONNOR of Nowhereville Alabama is privy to the secret knowledge that makes him not a sheep. Trashy.
Load More Replies... What commonwealth spelling are you talking about?
Load More Replies...
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