'Most depressing one-bed flat ever': Landlord takes down Facebook adverts for £300-a-month apartment after househunters compare it to Strangeways prison and Josef Fritzl's cellar
A landlord has taken down an advert for a £300-a-month apartment after househunters called it the 'most depressing one-bed flat ever' and compared it to Josef Fritzl's cellar.
An advertisement for the residence in Bolton, Greater Manchester, was immediately berated by renters after it appeared on Facebook marketplace yesterday.
Pictures of the 'one bed, one bath' property were only taken from one side of the room, revealing only half of the space, but no windows were visible - other than what appears to be a skylight in the ceiling.
What can be seen is an 'unmade' single bed against the to a socket, with what appears to be the previous tenant's phone on charge and two bottles of water.
The property, which seems to be otherwise empty, elicited dozens of jokes comparing it to a prison cell, with many asking what time 'lights off' was or when visiting hours were.
Others were so furious they called for the advert to be taken down.
After receiving hundreds of comments across the multiple listings, all were removed the same day.
An advertisement for the residence in Bolton, Greater Manchester, was immediately berated by renters after it appeared on Facebook marketplace yesterday
Pictures of the property were only taken from one side of the room, revealing only half of the space, but no windows were visible - other than what appears to be a skylight in the ceiling
The property elicited dozens of jokes comparing it to a prison cell, with many asking what time 'lights off' was or when visiting hours were. Others were so furious they called for the advert to be taken down - which after being bombarded with hundreds of comments across the multiple listings, all were removed the same day
Commenter Mark Keohane added: 'F*** me. Even cells have decent windows. You absolute joke ripping people off with this hamster cage.'
Lindita Hope wrote: 'Seen bigger cells.'
David Bowen said: 'HMP Farnworth.'
One commented: 'Seen compounds in better nick in Afghanistan.'
Another suggested it was an 'escape room' - comparing it to the popular game in which contestants are locked in generally unpleasant or even horror-like rooms and have a time limit to find their way out.
Numerous users said the property was so bad they felt compelled to request the ad be taken down while others suggested the tenant should be paid to live there instead.
The property elicited dozens of jokes comparing it to a prison cell, with many asking what time 'lights off' was or when visiting hours were
One commenter wrote: 'Disgusting. Take the ad down.'
Another added: 'You're having a laugh? You give the tenant £300 for staying in that? Yes?'
One said: 'You're taking the p***. Clean it, put some furniture in there and decorate it. I'm not even lying when I say most jail cells are better than this.'
A fourth added: 'What is the world coming to when you ask a price like that for a shocking place like this. My dog sleeps in a better place.'
However, while the overwhelming majority condemned the flat, a small number of commenters defended the advert and suggested anyone looking to rent the room could bring their own furniture.
One said: 'I've paid more for a worse looking room than that. You don't have to use that bed! Bring your own? Scrubbers on here.'
However, while the overwhelming majority condemned the flat, a small number of commenters defended the advert and suggested anyone looking to rent the room could bring their own furniture
Another wrote: 'Why do all of you have a problem with it? He has listed the room on rent. If you don't need the room or think it's not up to standard just ignore it. What's the point of criticism.'
But among the jokes about the rental, some feared that a vulnerable person would be forced to take the room.
A commenter said: 'The sad thing is that it will be taken up by some desperate person who needs a place to stay.
'Possibly one who can't afford a bond or they don't have legitimate documentation to secure a home. This is a clear example of robbing the vulnerable!
'So wrong. You should be ashamed of yourself. £300 for that.'
The landlord declined to comment.
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