A three-bedroom flat in Walthamstow, east London, advertised for £2,650 a month has been criticised online after a video tour showed a bed positioned directly above a ceiling hatch, with access to the space via a ladder through the kitchen.
Images of the property circulated on TikTok and other social platforms drew attention to the loft area, where low headroom and a bed located over an exposed hatch prompted viewers to call the arrangement unsafe and to describe the accommodation as a "death trap."
The online tour highlights a tidy dining room, a furnished living area and a slabbed garden, and shows other rooms — a utility area and a bathroom — that appear orderly and well maintained. The footage then moves to the loft, where the ceiling is low and a ladder from the kitchen gives access to a sleeping area. In the clip, the bottom of the bed sits over the hatch, leaving an opening beneath the mattress.
The TikTok post quoted by viewers described the space as one where a person "can't stand up" and must climb a ladder through a kitchen ceiling hatch to reach the mattress. Comments under the video raised questions about safety, practicalities of daily use and the property's suitability for multiple occupants. One user asked how sheets could be fitted in the cramped space; another referred to the listing's price and suggested the advert must be a joke. Several commenters used stronger language, calling the setup "diabolical" or a "death trap." One post questioned whether the loft feature was a separate additional sleeping area beyond the advertised three bedrooms.
When contacted, the landlord told reporters there had been "an error in the ad" and that the listing had been corrected, with an additional image showing a third bedroom containing a single bed added to the advert. However, images of the loft remain in the listing, and the property is marketed as accommodating up to six tenants, which prompted further comment online about overcrowding and safety.
The clip resonated amid ongoing scrutiny of London rental conditions and the use of loft conversions and unconventional sleeping spaces to maximise occupancy. Safety concerns around loft bedrooms typically focus on adequate escape routes, headroom and secure flooring; social media users highlighted the apparent risk that someone could fall through an exposed hatch or be impeded in an emergency.
The listing and the subsequent online debate illustrate the role of short-form video in shaping public perceptions of rental properties. The footage prompted widespread commentary on the balance between affordability and habitability in the capital's housing market, with viewers using humour and alarm to flag what they saw as poor accommodation standards.
Local housing rules vary, and properties intended for multiple occupants are subject to licensing and safety regulations. The landlord's statement that the advert was corrected did not address whether physical changes had been made to the property to alter the loft access or the mattress position. Requests for further confirmation from the landlord about safety measures or planning status were not immediately answered.
As the recording continued to circulate, viewers urged prospective tenants to inspect such spaces in person and to ask landlords about measures taken to ensure the safety of loft conversions and sleeping areas accessed via hatches and ladders.