California woman gets a list of rules from her property manager. Allegedly, children can no longer play outside and blinds need to stay closed

Most of us expect a certain level of autonomy when we pay our monthly rent, but one resident in San Diego is dealing with a property manager who allegedly has a lot of rules. The situation recently exploded on TikTok after a TikToker named Lilskyye shared a video detailing a list of restrictive rules being forced upon her apartment complex. With over 900,000 views, it is clear that people are just as baffled by these purported demands as she is.

As she talks about her breaking point, it should be noted that we only know her version. We don’t have the perspective of her apartment complex or the property manager. Lilskyye explained, “Yesterday, all the apartments here got a note from the property manager about some rules that we’re not following, or I don’t know, notices. Okay, and they’ve been pissing me off, so I’m here to share them now because I feel like it’s getting out of hand.”

She claimed that the most jarring rule for her was a supposed directive regarding the blinds. The property manager allegedly requested that tenants keep their living room blinds closed so that the curtains would not be visible from the outside. Furthermore, residents were told to remove any pictures, signs, or items in their windows that could be seen from the outside.

Closed blinds = No Sun

Lilskyye pointed out the absurdity of this, saying, “I need sunlight! That’s why I moved in here. Because the window was big and beautiful, and I need sunlight. I’m not gonna be in the dark. That’s dumb!” In a different case, a woman’s landlord told the building to stop taking long showers to keep housing affordable.

According to Lilskyye, the property manager also mandated that porch lights and backdoor lights remain on during evening hours in the name of safety. Lilskyye was quick to question who would be footing the bill for the increased electricity usage, stating, “Are you paying my electricity bill? I’m going to tell SDG&E to call you because I’m not turning that sh*t on.”

Then Lilskyye narrated that one day, the few children in the complex were playing outside. The next day, she claimed that the property manager distributed notes declaring that children were no longer allowed to play outside at the apartments. Lilskyye was incredibly confused. She noted that the kids were quiet and respectful. 

She even alleged that the manager once tried to tell the young boys to play across the street at a public building. Lilskyye expressed her frustration by saying, “If I was those kids’ moms, no, you’re not gonna tell me that my kids can’t play outside. First of all, I signed the lease, and it didn’t say that. So don’t tell me anything that’s not on my lease.”

TikTok pointed out that these alleged rules fall well outside the legal authority of a property manager. One user noted, “If it’s not on the lease, all these extra rules are irrelevant and void.” Another person with real estate experience added, “I started watching this video, as someone in property management, fully prepared to defend your manager lol but the further you got down the list… the more it became clear there is nothing to defend.”

Those commenters familiar with housing law highlighted that the restriction on children playing outside is particularly problematic. According to Fair Housing for Northern California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Unruh Act prohibit discrimination based on familial status, which includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians. 

These laws reportedly make it illegal to provide different terms, conditions, or privileges based on protected classes. Furthermore, it is illegal for anyone to threaten, coerce, intimidate, or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right.

One TikToker commented on the severity of the situation, stating, “Please tell the people with kids, that is a violation of housing rights under HUD, they can file a complaint, as parents with children are protected as housing used to discriminate against families with children till the late 70’s early 80’s.”

Some of the community had other theories. One user speculated, “It sounds like they are trying to sell the complex.” Another asked, “Is your property manager a former hoa president?” Once, a disconnected property manager tried to move someone in after a woman had already signed the lease.

At the end of the video, Lilskyye alleged, “I think she’s taking creative liberties there. And I don’t like that sh*t. It’s f**king annoying. You’re not gonna tell me that I can’t open my blinds. That was the last straw for me.”