The One Without Water (And the Tenant Who Really Needed It)

As a leasing agent, I’ve seen my fair share of quirky apartments. But nothing prepared me for the time I showed a unit that didn’t have any running water… and a prospective tenant who really needed to use the bathroom.

It all started when Jake, a potential renter, arrived for a tour of a “cozy” one-bedroom I was excited to show off. The apartment was charming in its own way—if you consider a view of a dumpster and a bathroom with exposed pipes charming. There was just one minor detail I forgot to mention: the water wasn’t on yet.

Jake looked uncomfortable almost immediately, shifting his weight like he was holding in a secret. Finally, he asked, “Uh, is the bathroom… available?”

“Of course!” I said, waving him toward it, totally unaware that he was about to experience a situation I was not prepared for.

A few minutes later, I heard it—a faint plop from the bathroom. My heart sank. Jake had, quite literally, used the bathroom, but with no water to flush, things had gotten awkward. I knocked on the door, trying to sound calm.

“Jake? Everything okay in there?”

Jake opened the door with a sheepish look. “Uh, so… I used the toilet, but, um… there’s no water… to flush.”

I froze, scrambling for words. “Uh… I can offer wet wipes?” I said, not my finest moment.

Jake stared at me like I had just suggested we go for a swim in the toilet. He politely declined and decided the apartment wasn’t quite what he was looking for.

Lesson learned: always mention if your apartment doesn’t have water before showing it to prospective tenants. You’d be amazed at how quickly people will decide they’re not ready to “live without” it!