People questioning how $1,200-a-month apartment in New York is ‘even legal’

Social media users have been left reeling after seeing a teeny tiny apartment in New York, with some questioning how such a small living space is even legal.

TikTok user Omer Labock shared a video of what he reckons is the ‘tiniest apartment in Manhattan’ and I think he might be right.

In the clip, he can be seen unlocking the door into a tiny room that looks like it could be a hallway and explains: “This is the entire apartment.”

The room, which has one large window and some storage, has no kitchen area, no toilet and no shower. In fact, it’s a bit of a stretch even calling it an apartment as it’s basically just a small room.

Labock continues: “I cannot make this stuff up. No bathroom. No kitchen. All you have is this closet to my left here - probably from Ikea, but, I mean, it does the job.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘What’s the deal with having no bathroom?’

And Labock goes on to share how that works - leaving the tiny room and heading back out into the corridor outside, he adds: “I’m sure you’re wondering where the bathroom is in this apartment.”

He then walks down the hallway until he eventually lands at the bathroom where there’s a toilet, sink and bathtub with a shower. Not exactly convenient, right?

So how much would you be expected to part with to live in this tiny room where every time you shower you run the risk of accidentally exposing yourself to a neighbour? I’m glad you asked - because to live in such a place you’d be handing over $1,200 (£952) a month. Ouch.

As you can imagine, fellow TikTok users were stunned by the tiny apartment and its not so tiny rental cost, with some questioning if it was even legal.

Commenting on the clip, one person said: “$1,200? That should be illegal. Wow.”

A second wrote: “Is this legal? Honestly?”

While someone else said: “In my city, it’s illegal for an apartment to not have a bathroom, it’s not considered an apartment as those cabinets are not considered a closet.”

Spotting a potential pitfall, a fourth person wrote: “Running out in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and door locks behind you.”

Another person asked: “How is this legal? I live in New York, I thought to be legally considered an apartment it needed a functional bathroom?”

Featured Image Credit: TikTok / @omerlabock

Topics: Cost of Living, Social Media, US News, TikTok

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]