A South Carolina woman says an unusual odor in the bathroom of her rental home led her to uncover a tragic story about the property’s previous tenant. After weeks of unsuccessful maintenance visits, she says the answer came not from inspectors, but from mail left in the home’s mailbox.
The woman’s account, shared on TikTok, has drawn widespread attention online as viewers followed the series of events that led to her discovery.
Move-In
Savy, who posts on TikTok as @savysnowxo, said she found the rental through a California-based real estate company.
During a tour of the property, she noticed a strong odor that became more noticeable in the hallway bathroom. According to Savy, the leasing representative suggested the smell was likely due to the house being vacant for several months.
She also said she was told the home had recently received fresh paint, new carpeting, and a replacement bathtub after the previous tub had been damaged.
Believing the issue was temporary, Savy signed the lease and later moved into the home with her family.
Odor
After moving in, Savy said the smell became impossible to ignore, especially when using the hallway bathroom.
She explained that despite working in healthcare and being familiar with unpleasant odors, this smell was unlike anything she had previously experienced.
Attempts to mask the odor with air fresheners were unsuccessful, prompting her to contact the property’s management company.
Inspections
According to Savy, the property management company first sent a maintenance worker, who also noticed the odor but could not identify its source.
A plumber was later asked to inspect the home’s pipes, but no plumbing issues were found.
The company then arranged for an exterminator to inspect the property after the possibility of dead rodents inside the walls was raised.
Savy said the exterminator ruled out that explanation after completing the inspection.
Mailbox
The turning point came unexpectedly when Savy returned home to retrieve her work identification badge.
She said she decided to check the mailbox and found mail still addressed to the home’s previous tenant.
Curious about who had lived there, Savy searched the woman’s name online and found an obituary indicating she had died only a few months earlier at the age of 29.
The timing matched what she had been told about how long the home had been vacant.
Search
Wanting to learn more, Savy searched for the home’s address in a neighborhood Facebook group.
According to her account, she found a post from a neighbor expressing sympathy for the previous resident and asking people to pray for the family that would move into the home next.
Savy then contacted the neighbor directly to ask what had happened.
History
According to Savy, the neighbor told her the previous tenant had served in the military and had lived alone in the house.
The neighbor reportedly explained that concern arose after packages remained outside the home for an extended period.
Emergency responders later entered the residence and discovered the woman had died inside the bathroom.
Savy said she was told the woman died by suicide and that damage to the bathtub occurred during the incident. She further claimed bodily fluids had penetrated the bathroom subfloor, which the neighbor believed explained the lingering odor.
These details are based on Savy’s account of what she says she learned from the neighbor and have not been independently verified.
Disclosure
Savy said she was frustrated that the property’s history had not been disclosed before she signed the lease.
Whether landlords are legally required to disclose a death in a rental property depends on state law, and disclosure requirements vary across the United States.
The real estate company referenced in Savy’s TikTok videos has not publicly responded to her claims.
Timeline
| Event | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Home tour | Strong odor noticed in bathroom |
| Move-in | Smell continued despite cleaning |
| Maintenance visit | No cause identified |
| Plumbing inspection | No issues found |
| Exterminator visit | No dead animals discovered |
| Mailbox discovery | Previous tenant’s mail remained |
| Online search | Obituary revealed prior tenant had died |
| Neighbor conversation | Savy learned the reported history of the home |
Savy’s experience has generated significant discussion online about rental property disclosures and unexplained household issues. While many details of the home’s history come from her personal account and conversations with neighbors, her story has prompted broader conversations about transparency between landlords and tenants when properties have experienced traumatic events.
FAQs
Why did Savy investigate the home’s history?
She wanted to find the source of a persistent odor.
Did inspectors find the cause of the smell?
No, maintenance workers found no clear source.
How did Savy learn about the previous tenant?
She found old mail and searched online.
Did the real estate company explain the home’s past?
Savy says it was not disclosed to her.
Has the story been independently verified?
The key claims come from Savy’s account.
