Sewer backup in the bathroom last night, came from under the toilet. Closet is wet too for some reason. Spent a good couple of hours cleaning it up as best I could. Called emergency maint. and they told me that the whole building was affected. Said that no one could come out to look at the apartment water problem until the morning.

Called the office this morning, they told me that it's pretty much my problem and that since it's not directly their fault, they won't do anything more than have someone look at the floors and see if the linoleum needs replacement (which the maint. guy said they will most likely reuse).

What can I do in this situation? I know it's a health hazard, since any water that comes from the sewer is "black water" and is potentially filled with evil things.

It's the first time that something like this has happened here and I thought it was a decent place otherwise.

Thanks in advance. btw. I've already looked at apartment horrors and it didn't provide anything useful.

5/31/2006 2:59:53 AM

Quote :

"What can I do in this situation?"

I thought you were the king of arguing with people? Why are you asking tdub? Either you beat them by arguing, read your lease for clues, and/or talk to a lawyer.

5/31/2006 3:16:39 AM

haha sounds like idiots in the building dumping grease/oil down the drains.

The city is reponsible for sewer overflow in the streets (city property), but the property owner is responsible for the building. I think the city will fix the problem both on and off private property, but will charge the owner.

since it affects the whole building, it's not your problem to fix.

you should take your case to the health department if the complex is refusing to fix the problem, and if you really think that they'll reuse the floors.




[Edited on May 31, 2006 at 3:35 AM. Reason : ]

5/31/2006 3:34:00 AM

Could well be the landlord's - talk to a lawyer.

5/31/2006 3:44:06 AM

Quote :

"I thought you were the king of arguing with people? Why are you asking tdub?"

I don't mind arguing if it serves a purpose, but I try to do some research before I pick up the phone. I'd rather not waste the time if I don't know what I'm talking about.

Lease doesn't explicitly cover this type of incident.

Lawyer is last resort.

Quote :

"haha sounds like idiots in the building dumping grease/oil down the drains."

i believe it was a root in the drain line.

I'll be calling about this at 8 am. Hopefully I won't have to bring up the unsanitary conditions, terminating lease, etc... stuff.

5/31/2006 3:56:35 AM

Just in case, make sure to take samples of any spilled sewage.

I read somewhere (it may have been here) about some guy that got drastically ill from mold that grew from backed up sewage, and he couldn't sue, because he didn't have samples of the bilge water to prove causality.

5/31/2006 5:06:06 AM

You could take a chance and call the health department and see what they say. I know in our old apartment, there was mold growing in the air vents and we called maintenance and they swore up and down it wasn't mold. So, we call the h.d. and they took a sample (ended up being mold) and the apartment managers got in big trouble.

5/31/2006 11:00:56 AM

http://www.apthorrors.com/

5/31/2006 11:10:03 AM

I would call the health department. If the place did not install a backflow prevention device when it was built, then it is absolutely the owners responsibility to fix. This is a public health emergency and them just acting like nothing happens and expecting you to pay for repairs to their builiding is unacceptable. I am a rental property owner and I know that I would pay to have this fixed if it was more than a case of someone pouring grease down the drain.

5/31/2006 11:14:07 AM

I'm not sure if the health department will be able to help, they are only going to be concerned if it is a septic system, not city sewer.

I would try the inspections department (not health/restaurant inspectors) - there should be a division dealing with rental property, something like minimal housing.

I'm assuming you're in Wake County:

Phone: 919-856-6060
Fax: 919-856-6229

Mailing Address:
Wake County
Inspections-First Floor WCOB
P.O. Box 550
Raleigh, NC 27602

5/31/2006 11:45:32 AM

aparrently the city of greensboro isn't very good at dealing with this.

i called the code enforcement division and they have someone coming out, but i believe the apartment will have someone coming out before they get here.

[Edited on May 31, 2006 at 12:00 PM. Reason : thanks amber1]

5/31/2006 12:00:17 PM