Who Pays For This? (by Susan [OH]) Aug 11, 2017 2:06 PM
Who Pays For This? (by LisaFL [FL]) Aug 11, 2017 2:55 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Lynda [TX]) Aug 11, 2017 4:12 PM
Who Pays For This? (by LisaFL [FL]) Aug 11, 2017 4:27 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Moshe [CA]) Aug 11, 2017 4:34 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Susan [OH]) Aug 11, 2017 4:56 PM
Who Pays For This? (by plenty [MO]) Aug 11, 2017 5:37 PM
Who Pays For This? (by AllyM [NJ]) Aug 11, 2017 5:46 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Vee [OH]) Aug 11, 2017 5:50 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Robert J [CA]) Aug 11, 2017 8:29 PM
Who Pays For This? (by S i d [MO]) Aug 12, 2017 5:00 AM
Who Pays For This? (by Wilma [PA]) Aug 12, 2017 9:39 AM
Who Pays For This? (by don [PA]) Aug 15, 2017 2:29 PM
Who Pays For This? (by Susan [OH]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 2:06 PM Message:
One of my tenants had a clogged (or slow running) kitchen sink.
While the drain folks were out, they also ran a snake down the main drain.(not sure why).
On the bill, it says for the clogged kitchen sink-caused by "sludge", and the main drain says "lint". "Lint" is a new one on me!
One perhaps complicating factor-the kitchen drain has a very long horizontal run with not a lot of slope.
Who Pays? --76.189.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 2:55 PM Message:
It depends on what your lease says.
Mine says tenant is responsible for tenant caused drain clogs. It's not easy to prove. So I typically cover it.
Except in one case where the snake pulled out 8 dangling white tampons and in another case where wipes were the obvious culprit.
I recently had three, yes three in the past ten days backing up washing machines.
Clothes washers do drain lint. I covered the cost as it's nothing the tenant did. There is no way to prevent this during normal use and there is no way to know how much build up was there from the previous tenant (per my plumber).
Kitchen sink clogs are typically clogged through use by the tenant, especially grease. Again, it's hard to prove the first time unless you snake someone the line prior to move-in. --173.170.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by Lynda [TX]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 4:12 PM Message:
-They live there and utilize the drain system.
-You don't live there and didn't do it.
-No one else sneaked in and clogged their drains.
Charge the tenant for the repairs. Wallet training is the best (and only)type of training that tenants learn from!
(Not only grease, but rotting fruit and vegetable peels, gravy and sauces, and washing/rinsing sand, mud, dirt off clothing and shoes at the kit sink also contribute!)
--108.87.xx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 4:27 PM Message:
Lynda you are a tough cookie! I need you!
In the above case I'd likely remind the tenant of what can and can't be put down the kitchen sink. I'd tell them that sink clogs occur from usage and remind them they are responsible for keeping their drain lines open (per my lease). Since this is the first occurrence I would tell them I will cover 1/2 of the service call but the next time it would be their responsibility.
The problem is if you charge too much they won't call you next time. They might try Drano and spill it on your new custom laminate countertop (happened) causing irreparable damage. Or try some other fix which damages the plumbing pipes.
I don't want to take those risks. So I'm firm but fair. There is a cost to me of course but a price I'm willing to pay. Especially when the damage is unintentional. --173.170.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 4:34 PM Message:
" Who Pays? "
I don't know anything about OH, but I bet that you do.
If you want to claim that it is her fault, then the burden of proof is on you. The bill from the plumber says "sludge".
--47.139.xx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by Susan [OH]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 4:56 PM Message:
Moshe-they have lived I the house for over 2 years, the drains were clear when they moved in,and the only way the burden of proof is on me *might* be if it goes to court. --76.189.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 5:37 PM Message:
Id pay for it and give a stern....next time it's on you cause it's totally clean out and clear. Don't put dryer lint down drain. What what you do, it's working now...that speech. --66.87.xx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 5:46 PM Message:
Sludge is soap and food and bacteria. I use Drano Max and just had some "sludge" this week which the Drano cleared. If people are pouring grease down there that's different. All grease should be wiped from the frying pan with a paper towel and thrown away. Generally not having a good screen over the drain will make a problem but I have good screens and it happens anyway. Soap is made from fat also. Get the tenant a container of Drano Max and ask them to use it and pour any grease into a plastic bag, tie it up and throw it away. You can charge them or tell them the above and if it happens again then charge them. --73.33.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 5:50 PM Message:
Susan I think you already know why the tenant needs to pay you back in the next rent cycle but just in case I will paste this info for you and others --> Dear Tenant, Upon signing of the lease /rental agreement you were issued the the keys to the premises and are the sole occupants. You took possession of a clean, well kept residential rental, with clean floors, walls, and fully functional utilities. While in possession you are responsible for maintaining the dwelling, kitchen and bathrooms, including free flowing drainage of all sinks tubs and showers.
Cotton swabs (Q-Tips®)
Cotton balls
Dental floss .
Fats, oils, grease
Facial tissue (Kleenex, Puffs, etc)
Food scraps
Unwanted cooking oil, cleaners, and the like should not be emptied down your drains.
Chemicals - Photo chemicals, paints, thinners, oils, varnishes, pesticides, used motor oil, unwanted cooking oil should never be flushed down a toilet nor put into any other building drains.
Clothing articles
Baby wiping products
Dead pets
Cigarette butts
Coffee grounds .
Dirt (such as from people who clean their flower pots in the bath tub should never be flushed down a building drain)
Drugs, prescription or non-prescription medicines
Condoms
Hair - Animal or human hair combings
Disposable diapers
Paper towels
Tampons, (wrapping them in toilet tissue and placing them in a garbage receptacle)
Any paper products with synthetic fiber reinforcements
The above mentioned products are known to create drain blockages and the owner will not be held responsible for drain cleaning if any blockage is found to contain these or other components that are not compatible with the drain system. Drainage clogs are the responsibility of the lessee and under no circumstances will the landlord incur charges for plumbing services requested or required as a result of abuse, mistreatment, or negligent practices resulting in the loss of function of any of the water based utilities.
Our property manager may be able to offer property access but payment methods are between you and the plumbing service and should be arranged in advance, she/he will not handle any cash on your behalf. If a problem arises, Please call a -licensed plumbing service- with whom you can arrange prompt service, we have had a high success rate with (your fav plumber) plumbing and he offers a discount to our tenants when paid promptly. 999-999-9999 --76.188.xxx.xx |
Who Pays For This? (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2017 8:29 PM Message:
As a landlord and licensed plumbing contractor I tell me tenants this:
When you start to see the drain slowing down, Leave me a Texted message -- I may be in the neighborhood and it will save me a trip.
If you have a back up, text me, email me and even call me so I can take care of it ASAP. If you decide to put off notification, then you will have get a Roto Company over to clean out the line and pay for it yourself. --47.156.xx.xx |
Who Pays For This? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2017 5:00 AM Message:
Sludge is not necessarily tenant abuse of a line. In my personal residence we had a drain line from the kitchen sink clog (75 feet or so down) after 10 years of us living here. Bits of "stuff" accumulated over time. I also learned not to allow any particles of starchy food go down the drain, like rice or pasta. So just because the drain was flowing well at move in does not mean the line wasn't 70% clogged way down deep where you wouldn't notice it unless you ran water several minutes.
I'd probably pay this once, with a note that now that the line is clear all future clogs are on the resident. --173.19.xx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2017 9:39 AM Message:
I started using this in my rental agreement:
"DRAIN STOPPAGES: As of the date of this Agreement, Owners warrant that the dwelling’s sewage drains are in good working order and that they will accept the normal household waste for which they were designed. They will not accept things such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, children’s toys, wads of toilet paper, balls of hair, grease, oil, table scraps, clothing, rags, dirt, sand, rocks, or newspapers. Tenants agree to pay for clearing the drains of any and all stoppages except those that the plumber who is called to clear the stoppage will attest in writing were caused by defective plumbing, tree roots, or acts of God. "
It came in really handy when a four-year-old flushed something wooden down the toilet. I noticed several months before move-out that the toilet was flushing poorly, and reminded the tenant that it was her responsibility. She did nothing, and I had to have a plumber come after move-out. Her s.d. covered it, and no getting my hands dirty! --71.175.xxx.xxx |
Who Pays For This? (by don [PA]) Posted on: Aug 15, 2017 2:29 PM Message:
As far as the kitchen drain, I tell my tenants to make sure they use a lot of water, esp. if there is a garbage disposal being used. The disposal grinds the food into sludge, but people turn the water off at the same time as the disposal. The sludge does not get flushed all the way down the pipes and solidifies as it dries out into a putty. Personally, when I use my disposal for anything substantial, I dump a pot of water down the drain when I finish. --70.90.xx.xxx |
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