An Upper East Side tenant was forced to leave her apartment and move into temporary housing after the ceiling in her bathroom suddenly collapsed, flooding the unit with water and live cockroaches.
Carolyn D., a 30-year-old marketing professional, has lived in her $2,400-a-month studio apartment for three years. The incident occurred late one night in July, shortly after she returned from a trip.
She had previously noticed a large crack in the ceiling above her toilet and informed her building superintendent, who promised to inspect it the next day. However, while she was preparing to sleep, the ceiling suddenly gave way, sending debris and water crashing down. To her horror, Carolyn saw five to ten cockroaches scurrying through the wreckage.
Startled, she climbed onto her couch to avoid the insects and called her superintendent immediately. She left the apartment that night, staying in a hotel and then with a friend, unable to bring herself to sleep in the damaged unit.
Her landlords responded promptly the next day, coordinating with her renter’s insurance, bringing in exterminators, and arranging a thorough deep cleaning. Carolyn praised their efforts, saying they were respectful and helpful throughout the process.
The TikTok video she posted of the incident has gone viral, accumulating over 320,000 views and hundreds of comments expressing shock and sympathy. Many viewers emphasized the importance of renter’s insurance, which Carolyn pays $17 a month for and credits with helping manage the aftermath.
Despite the landlords’ swift response, Carolyn revealed she doesn’t plan to renew her lease when it expires in May due to the psychological toll of the experience.
While grateful for the cleaning efforts, she remains hesitant to return, insisting she wants every inch of the apartment bleached and meticulously cleaned before she even considers going back.