'I can reimburse you up to $150': Sink erupts with rancid water, flooding a renter's apartment, then their lazy landlord risks everything to save a few bucks

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  • 01
    an K My sink is overflowing in the kitchen and it smells horrible I need someone here asap Mainen Muve 9
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    Am I overreacting? So two days ago I'm working upstairs in my apartment and notice a rancid smell. Thinking it was the garbage I come down stairs and see my sink overflowing with what is obviously blackwater, all over my counter, the floor, into my cabinets etc. I call my
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    landlord in a hurry and in about 30 minutes our regular repair guy comes, walks in and goes "holy | ". The odor was so strong myself and my two neighbors who were affected had to stand outside to breathe. They eventually fixed the pipes the water drained and the repair men waved
  • 04
    goodbye and left us. I had to reach out to my landlord several times awaiting a response to do something about this only for him to say that he'll give me $150 to pay for a cleaning lady. I feel like this is going to require a much bigger corrective action, there is literally water all over my kitchen, my dishes, my appliances. Am I overreacting? Should I continue to press him?
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    ← 912 Manager My sink is overflowing in the kitchen and it smells horrible I need someone here asap x 00 x
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    Water hasn't been turned on I just walked down and saw this. The floor and everything is covered. Is James doing work here? There is gravel all around it too. James will be there in -30 minutes Text message 帅
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    ← 912 Manager в It's actively flooding the kitchen please tell him to hurry. This is definitely sewage. The . apartment wreaks.
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    Wednesday 1:37 PM Will you be replacing the sink and items and hiring a cleaner? There is black sludge everywhere and the whole apartment smells nauseating. They walked through the muck and tracked it through the stairs and my bedroom upstairs. The apartment is a biohazard. Wednesday 4:36 PM ??
  • 09
    Sorry what happened!!! But, I am not changing your sink. I can hire a cleaning person to clean there, but I am afraid that you might have to wait for a couple of days. Instead if you can find one, then I will reimburse you up to $150. I really don't know what caused this clogging. What do you think that caused the overflow? Thanks, I understand the sink I was referencing more the piping or whatever.
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    This isn't the first time there have been plumbing issues with the sink. There needs to be a through professional cleaning, I don't know if just a cleaning person can do this. There is literal and dirt on my counter and soaked on floor on the rug and stuff. It's all in the cabinets, my silverware appliances etc. It's a huge liability to have us exposed to this. I have no idea what caused it. I was upstairs working and noticed a foul odor I though it was some fruit in my garbage or something and
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    Yesterday - 5:30 PM When is the soonest you can have a cleaner here? I will be available Saturday to let them in and clean.
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    Yesterday • 6:42 PM I think it might be better if you arrange it. Like I said I can reimburse you up to $150. What do you think? It will be much easier to set up an appointment. If not, I can do it. But, I'm not sure how soon I can have a cleaner come. Please let me know your thoughts.
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    Yeah that's a good idea I can have someone come this weekend, will Def be easier to coordinate. I plan to hire a specialty cleaner that can guarantee the area is sanitized so it may be more than 150. I will shop around to try and get a deal but I expect for this cleaning to be fully covered regardless. I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but there is literally soil and toilet paper stuck to my counter.
  • 14
    My dishes were drying in the rack and the water got into my drawers and cabinet. All things considered I think I'm being very reasonable here. I shouldn't be incurring any cost for whatever it takes to fix this as I had O to do with it. If it was just clean water that would be one thing but it is literally sewage in the place that I eat and prepare my food. I need you to be understanding.
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    Honestly, I have never reimbursed anyone for this kind of matter last 21 years. It's not unusual to have this kind of clogging issue when you live in a multi-family unit apartment like mine. I'm trying to be understanding. That's why I offered what I offered. Like I said, I will pay up to $150.
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    I'm not trying to be difficult here either. This issue costs me $700- $1000 because it was the main pipe that James and Mr. Choi had to unclog. In addition, last week I was told that the boiler water tank is leaking and needs to be replaced which will cost me $8000-$10000. I know it's not your problem, but I'm just
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    saying that I am trying to take care of the issue. In fact, I looked into Angi app and found $100 for standard cleaning and $149 for deep cleaning. So, please go ahead and shop around so that you can find a deal within the budget. Thanks for your understanding!!! I will send a text to each unit not to put any thing in the garage disposal in the kitchen sink. 8:36 PM
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    life-is-satire • 3d ago You can't clean black water out of carpet. This is an insurance claim. The $150 deep clean is for when someone wants their house clean but haven't scrubbed their stove top or their laminate floor, it's not for biohazard cleaning.
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    WhimsicalFalling • 3d ago Anything blackwater touches is a write off. I had a sewer backup recently and my insurance was like "yeah any carpet or furniture it damaged is going to have to be completely replaced, not cleaned."
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    Did it soak into the drywall or cabinets at all? If so there should be a water mitigation crew coming out, because water damage like that is a mold magnet, and if it's blackwater that's going to definitely need to be ripped out. The fact that the landlord isn't even considering that is incredibly short-sighted and concerning AF.
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    Mackheath1 . 3d ago This is obscene and highly illegal in CA. You are not overreacting. In fact, the opposite. Note: I am not your lawyer, you must speak with a lawyer.
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    • Document everything as you've done here. Note every single thing (no matter how small) that is yours affected by this hazard. Note the hours of work / value of your time lost due to this - including overhead.
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    • Get yourself to a hotel, you can deduct rent under California Civil Code section 1942 as well - it's not the most convenient thing, but you will recoup these costs when you contact an attorney about this if nothing is done like yesterday.
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    This has become a legal issue. The only thing you need to say is "This has become a legal issue." and don't speak any more to them. An attorney will offer a free consultation, and will very happily speak with them.
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    xKingJohn97x • 3d ago The landlord's last text is VERY concerning the way they worded that leads me to believe that you're not the first tenant in this apartment to have this issue and that they do the bare minimum in response.
  • 26
    alee0224 3d ago Boyfriend (plumber) had said any time there is a back up of sewage, there's a clog in the main line and you'll need a septic person come and take care of it. Not your issue. Buckle up and prepare for a long legal ride. Follow along the advice
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    of getting a lawyer. Set up an escrow with your municipal court. Get a hotel. Have your II pay for it and until the issue is fixed, and fixed properly; pay your rent to the municipal court office. Then look for a new place to live

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