An advertisement for a basement bedroom in Brampton is causing quite the stir on socials this week, and surprisingly not for the reasons nightmarish rentals in the area usually end up going viral.

Though the room in question does leave a lot to be desired as far as space, furnishings and overall feel, there is something far more concerning about the listing than the dingy, unexceptional nature of the unit itself: the anachronistic duties the landlord is asking of a would-be tenant.

The ad starts with an immediate red flag, informing applicants that the bedroom — with only one single bed pictured — is for a "girl" to share with a "boy," the latter presumably an existing occupant.

Furthermore, along with sharing a bedroom (and potentially a bed) with a stranger of the opposite gender, the new renter will have to take on some responsibilities that feel pretty sexist, including cooking and overall "good behaviour."

"Girl must know cooking, rest of the work boy will do," the landlord writes in the listing, adding that the washroom and kitchen are both shared, of course, in addition to the single room.

The girl can do all the cooking and the boy everything else…
byu/SockAsleep251 inSlumlordsCanada

Even for the low price of $300 a month listed, it seems that netizens are in unanimous agreement that the offer should be a hard no for any renter, especially a young female student, as it appears to be aimed toward.

"That description is worth a lawsuit, but okay," one person noted on the listing, which was shared to the SlumlordsCanada subreddit on Monday with the original poster confirming the ad was from Brampton.

"With the single bed I feel like this is a sneaky way to try and get a girlfriend," another added.

And yet another stated simply, "this is disgusting."

On X, the responses were much more lighthearted, with many joking that the listing reads like a marriage proposal or dating site entry.

"That is actually pretty grim," one person said earnestly, while another noted that the listing is "actually terrifying because some poor desperate soul will do it because they have no other choice."

Guy is renting a wife😂😂😂😂

— Juan 🐦 (@juan002021) January 31, 2024

The Toronto area has seen its fair share of horror listings lately, with spaces that have makeshift rooms with sheets as walls, beds in kitchens and some generally grim and unlivable conditions. 

Many geared toward international students, in particular, have multiple beds in one room, while other renters have tried to lease out half of their own bed or bedroom.