Luxury apartment residents plagued by 'stink bombs' down the laundry chutes

Residents of a luxury apartment building in the US are allegedly being targeted by a mysterious and unpleasant odour through their laundry chutes.

One resident, who did not reveal their identity or the location of the complex, said the stench is so intolerable they stuff a towel and packing paper in the door cracks to mask the smell.

“It seeps into the units like the strongest rotten egg smell you can possibly imagine. I’ve never smelled something so foul,” the resident said in a lengthy post to Reddit.

The resident, who claims they pay US$1900 ($2900) a month for a one bedroom, one bathroom 70 square metres unit, said the building management has investigated the smell.

In an email, shared online by the resident, the building’s management confirmed the odour is not linked to a gas leak, but rather, a deliberate act.

“Based on our investigation, we believe this odour is being caused by an intentional and repeated act,” the email, which is not dated, read.

“If we identify the individual responsible, they will face a lease violation and a $500 (A$760) fine, along with charges for any property damage caused.”

The building management then called on residents to help put a stop to the ordeal.

“Please keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity you notice to management (with pictures if possible),” the email read.

“If we cannot find who is responsible for these acts, we will be closing the trash chutes and everyone will be responsible for bringing their trash down to the dumpsters physically.”

The resident claims they have been told the smell is “stink bombs” in the laundry chutes.  

“The stink bomb is not mentioned explicitly in this email [management’s email], but the staff and I have a separate email chain where they said: “We believe it is a stink bomb being dropped into the chutes,” the resident wrote.

The resident then asked users of the social media platform for help to identify the stench bombs.

They shared that when they saw the rubber glove she had not read the email from building management.

“What should I be looking for? Is there anything that quickly gets rid of the smell? I’ve gone as far as to put my own air purifier into the hallway outside of my apartment with fingers crossed nobody steals it,” they wrote. 

“Now that I know it’s deliberate, I don’t really want to do that again and risk someone stealing it.”

A number of people responded to the resident’s post, some asked whether the building has any security cameras which might capture the offender.

“We do have cameras in the building, but I’m not entirely sure they’re recording anything,” the resident replied.

Others suggested the resident Google images of what stink bombs might look like.