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30-year-old marketing professional, Carolyn D., was forced to leave her Upper East Side apartment after a ceiling collapse in the bathroom unleashed water and live cockroaches into the unit. The incident has gone viral on TikTok, sparking concerns about building safety and pest control in aging New York City rentals.
The ceiling gave way late one night in July, shortly after Carolyn returned home from a trip. She had noticed a large crack above the toilet earlier that day but was told by her super that he would inspect it the next day. Hours later, as she lay down to sleep, the ceiling broke apart, showering debris and cockroaches onto the floor.
"I screamed, climbed onto my couch to avoid the insects, and called my super immediately," Carolyn said. "I'm way too scared to close my eyes in my apartment anytime soon." She spent the night in a hotel and avoided returning to stay overnight in the unit since, instead living with a friend in the days that followed.
Carolyn's landlords acted quickly, coordinating with her renters insurance provider, hiring an exterminator, and scheduling a deep cleaning. However, Carolyn has been crashing with a friend ever since and doesn't plan to renew her lease when it expires in May. "I definitely don't plan on renewing," she said.
The incident has renewed conversations online about the value of renters' insurance in New York City. Carolyn pays $17 a month for her policy and credits it with helping her navigate the situation. Her TikTok clip has garnered over 320,000 views and hundreds of comments expressing sympathy and revulsion.
