Leasing Agents Posing as Prospective Tenants ?

A YouTube contributor under the name "OctagonNYC" has posted a video (direct link) of a ABC News Nightline segment that focuses on real estate properties being converted into residential properties from past lives as asylums, such as the Octagon, and other non residential uses.

The focus of this presentation is however not the benefits of re-use but the assertion that a current Octagon leasing agent posed as a prospective tenant for purposes of the video shot. It is unclear if "OctagonNYC" is a current Octagon tenant or not or what prompted them to post this video other than the assertion of this act by the leasing agent.

I can't speak to the veracity of the assertion being made but the video shot is representative of individuals looking for what they hope is better value for their rental dollars.