Tenant wants rent reduction due to increased toilet flushing

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Tenant wants rent reduction due to increased toilet flushing

Connor Brokenshire
Member since 2020 · 1 post · 0 votes

Long story short, we had a sewage backup in the basement at one of my properties. The plumber came out and fixed it and recommended that the tenant flushes twice on their solids due to the pipes being older. Tenant is now requesting a reduction in rent since they pay the water bill and are now being told to flush more than normal.  Has anyone run into a situation like this and what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

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Steve Faucette
Rental Property Investor · Baldwin, NY · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 21 votes
5y

@Connor Brokenshire

Ask the tenant for that past year water bills, Compare it to what’s going on with the water bills , and provide a discount. Or spend thousands on running new sewer lines.

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  • Dennis Wayne
    Member since 2020 · 339 posts · 356 votes
    5y

    @Connor Brokenshire

    “No!” The most powerful word a landlord has ! Can save you thousands a year in unnecessary costs and repairs

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  • Michael Garofalo
    Rental Property Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2018 · 198 posts · 169 votes
    5y

    @Connor Brokenshire I'll be honest, I have never heard of a plumber recommending you flush 2x to get things down because the pipes are older. Is this someone you've worked with before and trust? A sewage backup is caused by 1 of 3 issues. Either the tenants are flushing things down they shouldn't be (baby wipes, paper towels, hair etc.), roots from trees are penetrating the pipes leading to the street, or you have a collapsed pipe somewhere that needs to be replaced. Just this past year, I replaced the main sewer lines in 2 of my properties, and have dealt with tenants flushing things down they should not be. 

    If I were you, i'd get a second opinion and have a plumber snake out the main line then scope it with a camera to confirm whether or not you have a bigger problem.

    1Reply
  • Danny Polanski
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 184 posts · 182 votes
    5y


    i might buy and install a bidet toilet seat for the tenant as this will help a ton with the amount of toilet paper they are using. 

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  • Steve Faucette
    Rental Property Investor · Baldwin, NY · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 21 votes
    5y

    @Connor Brokenshire

    Ask the tenant for that past year water bills, Compare it to what’s going on with the water bills , and provide a discount. Or spend thousands on running new sewer lines.

    1Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Connor Brokenshire:

    Long story short, we had a sewage backup in the basement at one of my properties. The plumber came out and fixed it and recommended that the tenant flushes twice on their solids due to the pipes being older. Tenant is now requesting a reduction in rent since they pay the water bill and are now being told to flush more than normal.  Has anyone run into a situation like this and what would you recommend?

    Thanks in advance!

    I have a very long sewer line in one of my offices and the plumber recommends we always flush twice for solids just to ensure it makes the trip. We've been doing it for years and never have a problem.

    From the studies I've read, the average toilet costs less than $12 per year in water usage. Double the flushes and you're talking $24. Divide that by 12 months and you're talking $1 per month per toilet...if they double flush every single time.

    I would tell the renter to study their water bills and they'll see the increase is negligible.

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  • Tracy StreichPro Member
    Real Estate Broker · Tulsa- OKC Oklahoma · Member since 2017 · 868 posts · 801 votes
    5y

    @Nathan Gesner with the solid numbers! (No pun intended)  It's a no Mr Tenant  

    [email protected]918-728-8080
    1Reply
  • Karl B.
    Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    Introduce them to the wonders of 1-ply TP. 

    0Reply
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