Plumbing and landlord problems. Advice?

I have had plumbing problems for the past year. There are 4 units in my apartment complex %26amp; we are the last one. Therefore, all of our plumbing is connected and we see to get the brunt of it.


My landlord is saying that I have to pay for the last plumbing bill because the plumber found paper towels in the drain (which in my opinion could be coming from any of the four units?) Do I really have to pay this? Our building is so old %26amp; I truly feel the problems we are constantly having can't possibly be from us. It's gotten so bad that at one point, sewage, human feces and toilet paper were running down the side of our complex.


She may threaten to raise our rent if I don't pay this bill. Any suggestions on what to do? Perhaps call the housing authority about the sewage outside? (I have pictures for evidence).Plumbing and landlord problems. Advice?
You have to read your lease.





AND you MUST follow-up what the lease states - or doesn't state - in the form of an e-mail and/or ';snail mail';.





In real estate AND in the practice of law, there is a very basic expression:


';When it isn't in writing, it simply doesn't exist.';





If the landlord won't communicate with you - in writing, THEN YOU should do it. Send ';snail mails'; and/or e-mails to the landlord's attention.





In case he/she denies any of those statements, be sure you keep exact duplicates in your files. THEN you produce that correspondence. You NEVER, EVER give any one those copies - except in court.





Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it!





VTY,


Ron Berue


Yes, that is my real last name!Plumbing and landlord problems. Advice?
DEFINATELY call about the sewage outside, but if he can provide expert evidence from a licensed plumber (the statement of cause on the bill is enough) that a particular unit is the cause the landlord can charge that tenant.





I tend to downplay Ron Berue's answers as he only uses generic ';cut %26amp; paste'; file responses.
call DEQ regarding fical-matter exposed and if you are all on a community sewerline, its on the LL to pay for and keep a clear %26amp; clean area for you to reside.


If you are on a lease, they cannot raise rents and if you are on a MotoMo rental agreement, it may be the better choice for you to leave anyway.


If its the latter, stop paying rents and force the LL's hand at a day in court and explain the situation to the Judge.





Photos and facts are a useful item when in court.
IF the sewer was fixed and it is not running down the side of the building anymore, you dont have a case. It may have came from some other unit. He also may have charged the other 3 people for plumbing issues before and now its your turn (you are the last unit). If there is a next time, he will charge the 1st unit and start over. I, however, would charge all of the tenants 1/4 of the bill. Send him a certified letter stating that you will be willing to pay 1/4 of the bill, but not all of it as there are 3 other tenants that could have done it. The landlord is NOT going to take your word that the paper towels arent yours. Been there done that before. So pay 1/4 with the letter and send it. On the bottom of the check put ';plumbing, my portion paid in full';. If he cashes it, he has agreed to the terms.
If the main sewer plugs up, any one of the tenants could be the source of the paper towels. Also the sewer could be damaged and plugs up with no one at fault.


I once cleared a sewer from a single family home where the pattern on the offending paper towels (blue bells) matched the roll in the kitchen!!!!!!!!! The tenant claimed she was not the source of the paper towels.