I'm about to move into a new apartment, and we initially didn't notice any weird odors because it smelled heavily of cleaning products after a deep clean. However, on a second visit, we discovered that the bedroom closet has a funky smell. It's hard to describe—somewhere between sour and sweet. I suspect it could be something like rotting wood, mold, or even a dead animal in the wall. Given the apartment's location, it doesn't have AC, it's on the top floor, and there's no external wall nearby. Plus, the landlord seems reliable, and a pest infestation seems unlikely since he has a good relationship with past tenants. We both have allergies and one of us has asthma, so we want to make sure it's safe. Should we consider passing on what otherwise seems like a great apartment?
3 Answers
It’s possible it could just be a weird smell from something benign like fermented fruit. Maybe someone made wine or left some fruit to sit too long? It's worth investigating further!
I’ve read that roaches can sometimes have a sweet smell, which is pretty unpleasant! I'm sorry to even bring that up, but it might be something to think about. But it is strange it would only be in one closet, especially if pest control is regularly done.
A smell like that often comes from a rat in the wall, which is pretty common. You might also want to check for a lot of mouse droppings, as that can smell too.