Landlord issues ,How do I confront him ?

Question

If it's not in my lease should I have to pay for unexpected expenses?Like paying to clean out septic tank because it was full and over flowed into my house and it took my landlord a month to get someone out to do it.he charged me $625.00 to do it.i didn't even know we had a septic tank.that wasn't told to us either. I'm very confuzed,what should I do?

Wayne Brooks · Answer

@Linda Reid

If you cause a clog, that a plumber had to clean out...then yes it’s your responsibility.

Pumping out a septic tank.....absolutely not.  Some landlords, like any people, are scumbags and will just try to get you to pay for something that is their responsibility..

Patricia Steiner · Answer

Please tell me you didn't pay it.

I recommend that you send him an email or letter (something in writing that you can forward on if needed) to advise him that the pumping of the septic tank is outside of your lease and therefore you are not responsible for that expense. You can also share that "the state requires the landlord to maintain the septic tank as part of general duties. Landlords must make houses livable and provide services to repair natural deterioration that would occur to the house regardless of the tenant."

That should do it.

Hope this helps - and hope even more that this shuts that guy up for good...

Theresa Harris · Answer

@Linda Reid  I agree with @Wayne Brooks.  If something you did caused the problem, then yes you should pay to unblock it (not empty the entire tank).  If it was regular maintenance, same as replacing the roof, then the landlord should pay for it.

Wayne Brooks · Answer

@Linda Reid

If you cause a clog, that a plumber had to clean out...then yes it’s your responsibility.

Pumping out a septic tank.....absolutely not.  Some landlords, like any people, are scumbags and will just try to get you to pay for something that is their responsibility..

Legal aid is a good suggestion if he persists.

Linda Reid · Answer

Thank u yall for replying to me.The landlord just bought the house and told us it was serviced before he bought it.But the weird thing about the hole thing is,We only lived here not even two months and the tank is full.and coming out our shower and overflowing the toilet to were we couldn't take showers or flush the toilet..Had to rent a motel room to take showers and use the bathroom.i have all receipts. My main concern is the year end Solor bill?Called true up.Has anyone heard of that?

James Wise · Answer

If you can't come to an agreement with your landlord I suggest hiring an attorney or contacting you local municipality's legal aid department when problems that you don't know how to deal with arise.

Landlord issues ,How do I confront him ?

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