Hazmat

[Warkitty]

Anyone got a hazmat suit I can borrow?

Seems this place has a plumbing problem. I've had the landlord out twice now, and yet still today I come in from walking the dogs and find raw sewage all over the bathroom and running down into the air vent. I got my spot cleaner out to suck up most of it and put it down the sink, the sinks seem to drain without issue. The tub and toilet on the other hand... well if my next door neighbor runs laundry they back up with that water and whatever I've tried to flush with varying degrees of success. In other words, sometimes it takes all day for the toilet to actually flush down rather than just fill up with water and slowly seep down to level, leaving anything non-liquid still in the bowl.

Yeah, I'm enjoying this. Right. This time, the water got to the hall carpet a bit, so now that will have to be cleaned thoroughly as well as the entire bathroom. Meanwhile, I've no way to shower or pee.

To say the least, I'm OUT OF HERE as soon as this damn lease is up. This is disgusting.

Meanwhile, anyone got that hazmat suit and maybe a port-a-john from camping?

[daworm]

To say the least, I'm OUT OF HERE as soon as this damn lease is up.

IANAL, but if the house is uninhabitable, then you should be able to break the lease with no penalty (and could probably sue for this months rent, too). A call to the health department might get you locked out of your apartment, but would force the landlord to fix it, and you would most likely be able to recover any hotel expense. Just the threat of it might get him off his butt.

[Scarlet&Gray]

Sounds like the main drain needs snaked out by Roto-Rooter.

[Warkitty]

The LL has been out twice to clear the line and snaked 75' out.

Worm, I can't wait to be reimbursed for hotel bills and hotels tend to frown on doberman pinschers. I'm pretty much stuck. Even taking my own house back would take at least a month while forcing the current residents to move. Not something I relish doing since they've been stellar tenants and will have trouble finding somewhere to live as well.

[LimitedRecourse]

If the landlord has snaked that far, it may be a blockage in the CITY'S line...neighbor kid could have flushed a few tonka trucks.

[Bob]

The landlord is responsible for the plumbing with few exceptions. Let him explain what you're supposed to do. If he says you have to live with the neighbors sewage pumping up into your house then call the authorities. (record the conversation, make sure he knows)

[Scarlet&Gray]

Wow

[Katworm]

When we had a sewage backup a couple years ago, NO ONE would touch the clean up except Servpro. They arrived in white suits and when they left, they took the bathroom cabinets, the bar, the baseboards, and any carpet that had been contaminated. This is why the landlord has insurance.

[snarkalicious]

Kitty, I'd be interested to know where you live...my daughter rented a house in N. Chattanooga with these exact same problems, and when she and her room mate broke the lease to move to a place with a functional toilet, the landlord took them to court and forced them to pay the rest of the lease...I hope it's not the same place and this man is not still renting that dump

[Bob]

Jun 22, 2010 23:30:36 GMT -5 snarkalicious said:

...the landlord took them to court and forced them to pay the rest of the lease...

I'm curious, did they have documentation? I don't really doubt it but find it amazing a judge would side with the landlord in that situation.

[Warkitty]

I find it amazing as well. If it comes to possibly breaking the lease to get out I'll have someone from the health department come by to prove it's still contaminated.

[Warkitty]

So, he said he cleaned the bathroom today. I forced him to replace the air vent that had the sewage spilling into it, but he flatly refused to remove the carpet and pad in the hall where the sewage seeped into it. Said he'd come out tomorrow and shampoo it, but he wouldn't replace it. I do not believe that cleans it enough for health NOR is it industry standard as he claims. He also did not replace the baseboards that had that sludge up against it.

Now if he refuses to let me out of there, I will have it as a mission to make his life miserable and cost him more for keeping me there than he'd have had to pay to let me leave. He'll get to know Red Bank building code enforcement all too well, and I'm sure the health department would look poorly on his allowing the leak in the spare room to continue for 6 months after I told him about it because he "can't afford to replace the roof yet." I can smell the mildew in there, which means it's contaminating the walls. I bet he doesn't want me to have code enforcement check his OTHER properties either.

Y'know, I'm not given to being vindictive but... well right now I'm just pissed.

So, anyone know a reporter wants to expose the a slumlord trying to cover up toxic conditions? We might talk, if he won't play ball.

[HonorH957]

Cat, check your PM

[HonorH957]

Recommendation I received for reporters are Calvin Sneed with Channel 9 or Joe Legge with Channel 12.

[Warkitty]

I already had Calvin suggested. I've called in to find out what time the landlord will be at the property today so I can deliver a letter that I'll ask him to sign a copy of signifying he's received it.

[LimitedRecourse]

The claws are out----watch out, landlord!

[Justin Thyme]

This just seems appropriate for some reason.

[Crash0]

It's times like this that I really enjoy basking the cleansing light of a good healthy Fire. Not that I'm endorsing Arson, Kitten, I'm just saying

Anyway, it sounds like you'll be looking for a new apartment soon, one way or another. I never had any issues with Mountain Creek, but it's really a college kinda place. When does your lease run out, and what part of town are you looking to live in?

Crash

[Warkitty]

I'm moving. I voice recorded my meeting with the landlord today, presented to him a letter of intent to terminate the lease early due to the health issues involved in the bathroom cleanup and leaky spare room plus a few other things that bothered me. He said he would have his lawyer check it before signing, but that he would let me off the lease without argument or expectation of my paying out the remainder of the lease and with return of deposit after he inspected the apartment after I vacate it. I've another place lined up. A little garage apartment down the road that's not GREAT but has some charm in location, is month to month and most importantly *clean*.

I gotta start packing.

[Warkitty]

Amen, Yoda.

Went by this morning. I think my new spot will be just fine. Good owners, good neighbors... a cute little setup. Just need to start seeing about getting utilities transferred over.

[ScarlettP]

Just FYI on the plumbing...

Our basement sink started backing up in a similar manner to what you described. Turned out to be the grease trap. It took a pro-plumber about 15 minutes to fix and the bill was just over $100. Best money I ever spent! He said it wasn't really raw sewage from the toilet, just backed up kitchen sink crap. It just SMELLED like something died.

If that mess had been in my living quarters instead of the basement, I wouldn't have lived with that over night.

[Warkitty]

No, this was definitely raw sewage. Trust me.

I'm packing boxes today and tomorrow. Anyone bored and wanting to help a now injured (sliced my knee open today) woman with the moving prep-work? How about anyone wanting to make this a REALLY fast move that's free on Wednesday? I won't have much stuff if I can get some of it to my "storage" unit at my house.

Oh, and there's a queen size bedframe (not in the sewage zone, promise) that can be claimed by anyone willing to help. It's an ecru microfiber headboard/footboard platform frame in excellent condition, might have some dog hair on it.

[Police Moderator]

I'm free Wednesday, after 4.

Sign me up.

PM with when and where.

[JC]

" It's an ecru microfiber headboard/footboard platform frame in excellent condition, might have some dog hair on it. "

I'll take the dog hair

[Warkitty]

I'll gather some up with the lint brush and bag it for you.