Landlords Renting Out Bags of Holding as Apartments

The housing crisis in Waterdeep has reached desperate levels, with landlords increasingly resorting to renting out extra-dimensional spaces as affordable housing. Listings for 'Cozy Bags of Holding' and 'Spacious Portable Holes' have flooded the market, offering rent significantly lower than traditional brick-and-mortar apartments. However, tenant rights advocates are warning that these units often fail to meet basic safety standards. The primary issue is ventilation; many bags are not designed for long-term habitation, leading to stale air and occasional suffocation risks if the opening is sealed for too long.

One particularly harrowing incident occurred last week when a family of gnomes was accidentally ejected into the Astral Plane after the landlord sneezed while holding the bag's opening. The family was recovered three days later, aged slightly due to time dilation effects, and now refuses to leave their temporary shelter at the local temple. Safety inspectors have begun raiding properties suspected of illegal dimensional conversions. They are looking for proper anchoring runes, emergency exit portals, and compliance with the Spatial Zoning Act, which mandates that all living spaces must exist in the same plane of existence as the landlord.

Despite the risks, demand remains high. Young adventurers unable to afford a room in the city center are willing to tolerate the cramped conditions and the risk of being turned inside out. Some landlords have installed magical amenities to justify the high rents, such as floating lights and endless water basins. However, tenants report that the walls sometimes breathe, and there is a persistent feeling of being watched by the fabric of the bag itself. There have also been issues with neighbors; since multiple bags can be placed inside a larger bag, some complexes are essentially nested dimensions where noise travels unpredictably.

The Tenants Union is demanding legislation that classifies Bags of Holding as real estate rather than personal property, which would grant renters more protections. Currently, landlords can evict tenants simply by shaking the bag, a practice known as 'violent eviction'. Until laws are changed, housing experts advise potential renters to check the weave density of the bag and ensure there is a secondary escape route, such as a Rope Trick spell cast in the corner. The city plans to build more affordable housing, but zoning disputes with local dragons have delayed construction indefinitely.