Sunday night, the toilet & shower started overflowing and sent sewage onto the floor in the downstairs. The problem was a result of roots in the sewer pipe that caused the back-up. The sewage spilled onto the carpet in the room. i called a plumber to fix the problem immediately. however, we need to replace the carpet.
I have sent two emails to my landlord regarding the problem and left two voicemails. The carpet is a health hazard and needs to be replaced immediately. How should i proceed in fixing this problem?
Should i replace the carpet and then just deduct from the rent (which is due today)? Or just not pay rent until i hear from the landlord on how to proceed?!
Help!!
2006-10-31 12:10:49 · 7 answers · asked by mcarroll05 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Why does the carpet need to be replaced?? I'm really curious. I hate to admit it but I manage an apartment complex that was built in 1939 so the plumbing is OLD. We have had numerous sewage back ups but have NEVER had to replace the carpet over it.
We call a plumber to fix the problem and then we call our best carpet company to come extract the water from the carpet. GOOD companies will know how to treat a carpet with sewage damage. A plumber does not and cannot give you the best advice on whether the carpet really needs to be replaced. Someone who cleans carpets and does water extractions, they know. They've been trained for that sort of thing because horrifyingly enough, it happens often.
Did your landlord pay for the plumber? Did you call the landlord when the back up happened? I don't condone this person just ignoring you but I do feel that you should try to call a carpet cleaning company that has knowledge with back ups first.
Most lease agreements also have a clause about what happens when an apartment becomes "uninhabitable." Check that out. Take time out to visit your landlord if possible. But, in the mean time, PLEASE call a cleaning company. If they tell you the carpet needs to be replaced, call your landlord one more time, give a deadline for it to get fixed. If he drops the ball, call him again and tell him you are moving out. TAKE PICTURES! Especially if you have to move out. And get a statement from the carpet company stating the carpet needed to be removed. All this will help you in the future with your landlord and any other landlords that you may encounter in the future. Don't replace the carpet for the landlord because that is THEIR job if it is truly necessary. Don't make life easier on him when the carpet in this situation is HIS responsibility.
2006-10-31 13:50:27 · answer #1 · answered by LpYrBby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, if the carpet is that bad, remove it ASAP. You need to read your lease, normally a landlord needs to make repairs in a "reasonable amount of time", and that is very a gray area. Its not life threatening so I would say a week to replace the carpet. I hope you have a copy of the plumbers bill with an explanation of what happened, the landlord should reimburse you for that. Pay your rent, your landlord will need to replace the carpet, and if you go out and purchase carpet it could cause some problems, say if you buy carpet for $30.00 a sq.yd your landlord may argue that was to expensive, and you may not get your money back. If within the next day or so, you don't hear from your landlord send him a letter via certified mail and demand ( not being rude) that he replace the carpet and pay the plumbers bill, if he hasn't already.
2006-10-31 13:02:19 · answer #2 · answered by kgreives 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Send a letter to your landlord. Pay for certified mail with a mail receipt. (The extra cost will save you money in the long run.) Let him know what happened and why, include a few carpet replacement costs and the plumbing bill (make copies and hold onto them, give him a date to respond back to you. Let him know if he does not comply, you will deduct the cost of repair off next month's rent and the month after if needed. Include this month's rent payment with the letter.
2006-10-31 12:21:42 · answer #3 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try calling the landlord again if that has no results cover your butt pay the rent then call a health inspector,
2006-10-31 12:13:21 · answer #4 · answered by conundrum_dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the owner received't restoration it with in some days call the well being branch. i comprehend you don't want to flow yet residing with raw sewage isn't healthful on your relatives and also you. possibly the pink go can help you stumble on non everlasting safeguard. desire you nicely!
2016-12-05 10:05:04 · answer #5 · answered by aune 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call Servpro for an estimate, hire an attorney to give you advise on how to proceed since the landlord is not returning your calls for a reason, but they will keep cashing your payments you've sent to them. and take them to court., and find a cleaner and more sanitary place to live. Yuk!
2006-10-31 18:36:28 · answer #6 · answered by MIABELLA_C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call your landlord and let him or her know since they dont want to talk to you to work out the problem your going to notify better business BBB if they dont want to be investigated they will talk to you. it works I had a mold problem one time and they wouldnt fix it so I emailed the BBB. good luck if you decide to fix it you can deduct it from your rent in some states check out tents rights online.
2006-10-31 12:25:59 · answer #7 · answered by mommykat36 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋