'They want her to pay $45,000 [for repairs]': Clueless renter facing exorbitant repair fees after destroying the apartment with 1 can of chicken soup

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
May 13, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

When I went through high school, we didn't have Home Economics as a required class. Apparently, kitchen etiquette, doing your taxes, and keeping the house under control weren't things that the public school system still valued, so lo-and-behold, an entire generation went without baking cakes for a final grade. However, the Gen X woman in our next story clearly never aced her Home Ec classes because she's found herself in a bit of hot water (soup?) over a no-brainer decision that was definitely a question on the kitchen etiquette final.

Gen X folks are normally quite sharp from living a life a turnkey kid and enjoying the freedoms of 'learning by doing', but the 67-year-old renter in our next tale has been skimming by in the common sense department for decades. After noticing a can of chicken soup had gone bad, she decided to flush the remaining food down the toilet, destroying the apartment building with a clogged, flooded toilet and explosive plumbing. 

Scroll for the entire story–and the life lesson–that unfolded when a woman flushed food down the toilet and was met with a $45,000 fine.

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  • 01
    r/Renters ⚫ Mercer-General Clogged toilet destroyed my house. Landlord says I have to pay. My mom who is 67, rents at a nice senior community. She is very happy with her agangmenta. But now she might be
    via Mercer-General
  • 02
    thrown out. She had old chicken soup that spoiled. So she dumped it in the toilet and flushed it. Then went in a walk in the park. After returning couple hours later, her whole apartment was flooded from the toilet, sink, shower. It turned out
    via Mercer-General
  • 03
    she flushed a chicken bone and it got stuck in the main pipe 12 feet from her toilet. She lives on the first floor, 4 floors on top of her. And 8 bathrooms go in her main drain. The waist from the upstairs people flooded my mom's and her neighbors whole apartments.
    via Mercer-General
  • 04
    The land lord said she was at fault. I don't know?? What do you do with a big pan of spoiled soup. Put it in the garage with a gallon of liquid so it leaks every where. They want her to pay for all repairs, maybe $45,000 and move out. They gave her 30 days notice.
    via Mercer-General
  • 05
    She dose not have that kind of money. Reason she really wants to stay is all her friends are near by and she has rent control for seniors. She pays 47% of the going area rent. I don't know if this is legal???
    via Mercer-General
  • 06
    Federal-Practice-188 1d ago . Are you seriously asking how you're supposed to dispose of soup? Neither you nor your mom know that throwing stuff like chicken bones or other solids down a toilet or sink may cause them to clog up? Reading posts like this makes me never want to deal with renters.
    via Federal-Practice-188
  • 07
    HelpfulMaybeMama 1d ago Her renters insurance could help. But, no, chicken soup does not belong in the toilet. She's at fault, unfortunately.
    via HelpfulMaybeMama
  • 08
    Bennieboop99 · 1d ago Your mom destroyed the landlords house and as an older lady, she should know better. She is 100% responsible for the damages.
    via Bennieboop99
  • 09
    beckywiththegood1 1d ago What do you do with it? You put it through a strainer so only the liquid goes down the drain obviously, and you sure as don't put it in the toilet.
    via beckywiththegood1
  • 10
    Yes, she's at fault and liable for the damages. I hope she has renters insurance. With the amount of damage they are not going to let this go and will take her to court if she cannot pay. She will certainly be evicted.
    via beckywiththegood1
  • 11
    itsmrsq 1d ago What did her renter's insurance say? She is at fault she flushed something other than toilet paper. She will owe this money, so she should report to get renter's insurance so they can open a claim and investigate.
    via itsmrsq
  • 12
    90.03 AdIndependent7728 • 1d ago Yes she has to pay to fix the damages. This isn't normal wear and tear. I recommend she calls contractors and gets a couple of quotes on fixing the damages. This will give you an idea on whether or not $45k is reasonable. Ask to work out a payment plan if she can't pay all upfront.
    via AdIndependent7728
  • 13
    • ittybittyx0 1d ago What an absolute nightmare. I have never flushed food down my toilet in my 30 years of life. Unfortunately she is at fault and the damage she caused could have been prevented so I don't see her getting out of this Scott free.
    via ittybittyx0
  • 14
    Etrnlrvr 1d ago To both do it and merrily admit you did it is a special kind of stupid. Then to woe is me about it is next level entitlement. Zero F's given.
    via Etrnlrvr
  • 15
    Emotional-Nothing-72 1d ago • Yes. It's her fault. Nothing but human waste and toilet paper goes in the toilet. In some states if damage done costs over what is paid yearly in rent then yes an eviction can be granted.
    via Emotional-Nothing-72
  • 16
    It's a tough situation. It's a very for your expensive repair. It grandma but why should anyone else have to pay for it? That doesn't seem fair. Very expensive lesson to learn. I'd throw it absolutely anywhere except in the toilet.
    via Emotional-Nothing-72
  • 17
    Educational-Hope-601 • 1d ago She is absolutely liable. Why on earth would you think to flush that down the toilet? You strain out the liquid into the KITCHEN SINK and then put the solids in the trash. You don't flush chicken bones down the toilet
    via Educational-Hope-601

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crazy responsibility landlord housing repairs fine interesting chicken soup rent pay renter soup story renting money fee
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