The woman, who goes by the username @notevenfrenchy, posted a TikTok of the incident on April 13 and received more than 1.7 million views and 1,400 comments, many from viewers debating whether or not the current tenant was in the wrong for not vacating the apartment for a tour.
Landlords have the ability to show their units to potential tenants while the current tenant occupies them. While people renting units cannot keep their units from being toured, there are state laws that require landlords to give tenants notice before entering – typically at least 24 hours.
“When you’re supposed to be viewing an apartment but the current tenant is still here,” the on-screen text explained as @notevenfrenchy filmed herself walking into the unit.
“Am I seeing this or what?” the shocked realtor asked as she saw the man sleeping on a twin mattress on the floor.
As the woman filmed inside the apartment, the realtor walked over to the tenant’s bedroom and began speaking to them through the closed door.
“Look at the text don’t you get it?” the realtor asked. “I said ‘I have showings.’”
The realtor said the tenant replied “okay no problem” to her text. At the end of the video, the frustrated realtor stood by the bedroom door looking frustrated.
The woman explained that the current tenant was allegedly supposed to be out of the apartment by April 10.
“So yes she was very upset,” the woman wrote in the comments. “And no the man on the floor was not the tenant.”
More than 1,400 users commented on the woman’s video, with many making jokes about the apartment.
“As you can see this apartment is very comfortable,” one user joked.
“A showing doesn’t mean you have to leave your apartment,” another mentioned. “Although this level of chill during a stranger walking through their apartment is next level.”
“The realtor acting like it’s the current tenants problem,” one user commented. “You think they give a f if u wanna show the apt??? Lmao.”
Newsweek reached out to @notevenfrenchy for comment.
Some tenants have publicly shared their reactions to having potential tenants tour their current apartments. One woman posted a TikTok video calling out her “creepy apartment manager” for giving tours without notifying her in advance.
In the viral TikTok, the woman left a large bottle of insect killer to show potential tenants that there was an alleged bug problem.
Another individual shared their experience in a popular Reddit thread, saying their landlord allegedly threatened to sue them if they didn’t allow tours to potential tenants while they still lived there.
In another viral TikTok, a woman said she had to hide all her pets while her landlord came over for an inspection. The woman shows a pile of stuffed animals and asks viewers if they can see her cat, but everyone is shocked at the cat’s camouflaging skills.