Thousands of people can’t get over this basement apartment’s ‘outdoor space’

When the apartment door is pushed open nothing untoward immediately stands out.

The two-bedroom basement property in the neighbourhood of Hoboken in New Jersey appears neat and tidy.

There’s a galley kitchen with stainless steel appliances and storage, a neatly tiled bathroom with a shower and a small hallway closet.

The bedrooms both boast exposed brick and appear somewhat bright and airy with equally small wardrobe space.

Even stepping into the loungeroom, nothing immediately appears alarming.

Yet, after more than three months on the market, the apartment remains vacant.

“It’s been 105 days and renters are avoiding this apartment like the bubonic plague,” the agent with NYC Cozy Rentals says in a now viral TikTok video.

He films a tour of the apartment, highlighting the positive features of the property.

“As we leave your kitchen we have the main living room,” the agent says.

“If you didn’t notice, we have that door.”

He points in the direction of a doorway off the living room. He approaches before turning the door handle and stepping through.

“You’ll be surprised to learn it does come with an outdoor space,” he said.

“As we look around, I want to know in the comments would you use this outdoor space or would you leave this door locked and never ever come back here?”

Before he returns to the inside the apartment, the agent points down the outdoor space to a staircase that appears to open onto street level.

The agent then shared that the apartment was originally priced at US$5400 ($8300) per month but the landlord reduced the rent to an even US$5000 ($7699) a month.

The average rental price for Hoboken – which is about a 30 minute commute to Manhattan – is around US$4695 per month.

Meanwhile, the average rent for an apartment in Manhattan is about US$5500 ($8500).

The video has been reviewed more than 1.6 million times and received thousands of comments since being published in late June.

The majority of the comments centred on the outdoor space.

“Comes with an outdoor space? Bro.. That’s outside,” one person wrote.

“I like watching murder documentaries, I don’t want to be on an episode though because of the murder door,” a second person wrote.

Others took issue with lack of value for money.

“Worth $800 a month max. Little to no closet space, flimsy back door with light showing around the edges would not pass inspection and is susceptible to flooding,” one person wrote.

Even a number of Australians shared their views on rental prices.

“That’s nearly $8k in Aussie dollars. No way in God’s holy earth would you pay that,” one Australian shared. 

“Who the hell would be earning over $2k a week to pay for that. Not even if you worked in the mines in Australia could you afford it.

“Rent is crazy there but this is asking for too much, your so right about the mines comment. Who would be able to afford this.”

The average monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in Brisbane and Sydney ranges between $2300 to $2900 per month.