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    Who pays the plumbing bill - the landlord or the renter?

    We rent our house from a wonderful and generous man. Our kitchen drain got plugged up and we called the plumber. After the drain was fixed we gave the bill to our landlord.


    Now I feel cheap for how I handled it?  Was it wrong to give the bill to the landlord? If you think that it was cheap, how do I handle it now? (Our rent is discounted by $500.00. We got the discount because he knew we’d tale care of the house.


    PS: I suggest that you don’t put rice down your drain.

    +2  Views: 1006 Answers: 5 Posted: 10 years ago
    Colleen

    Moderator

    ______________________________________


    itsmee

    Yes, oh
    I know you’re right. Now I don’t know what to do. Return the money? $35.00 for me putting rice down the drain?

    ______________________________

    ROMOS

    Could've been worse, don't worry about it!

    ______________________________

    itsmee

    smooch ... ok. I will take your advice. Really. worry will drive me nuts... uh, nuttier. xo

    _______________________________

    ROMOS

    Get to bed, it's late in Fresno is it not?

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    Bob/PKB

    itsmee, if I were responsible for the problem, I would feel responsible for the cost of repairs.
    The drain clogged because you rinsed rice down the sink, not because there was something wrong with the plumbing.
    You know what to do.
    And, in the future, NOTHING goes down the drain but water (that's what they say in these parts, neighbor).

    ___________________________________

    itsmee

    Bob/PKB Ok. Thanks. Now I am confused. I have known this guy all my life. He's a relative! Phyllis .... I don't know what to do. I'm weighing it.
    'NOTHING GOES DOWN THE DRAIN BUT WATER" Bob/pkb
    What does go down the drain?

    ___________________________________

    Bob/PKB

    Itsmee,
    It is being said that even garbage disposals aren't efficient in grinding up stuff. The stuff down the drain ends up in treatment ponds and is recycled. It's been recommended we not rinse anything down the kitchen sink anymore.
    Relative or stranger, you caused the clog with the rice. You strike me as one who would carry guilt about someone else paying for something you caused. What does hubby say?

    ____________________________________

    ROMOS: Not had a coffee together yet girls?

    ___________________________________

    Bob/PKB

    No, I went off my med months ago and have cloistered myself. Realized the problem and started back 2 days ago. Maybe sometime soon. I'd enjoy meeting her.

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    itsmee

    Phyllis, I have taken many meds. I take them now. e-mail me and we’ll try a “phone date"

    5 Answers

    I rent from my local authority, everything essential is done free of charge, if however I block drains or accidentally damage something I can expect to be charged for the repairs. 


    I try to make things look like the essential repair job or I do it myself!

    If your landord thinks you should pay for these repairs he will no doubt tell you, I wouldn't worry too much, he  sounds like a descent sort of feller. Oh , and you certainly not cheap. We can all learn from your experience not to put rice down the drain.

    itsmee

    It was rice and some other vegetables. I think rice by itself MIGHT go down. But don’t try it.
    When we first moved to Salinas the Artichoke capital of the world (or something) we jammed the disposal with Artichoke leaves.
    Anybody else have tips?

    itsmee, You're not supposed to put anything down your drain, except water........unless it's a garbage disposal.

    itsmee

    mcm: It IS a garbage disposal. Maybe Bob/pkb didn't know that?
    Bob/PKB

    You didn't mention garbage disposal, itsmee :). Probably the starch built up???
    itsmee

    Starch buildup is an incredibly good guess. Oh, my husband just said that the plumber said the rice expanded. However, the rice was already cooked. How could it expand anymore. Soon I would have rice the size of the kitchen ... the house ... the town ... Oh, you know. Maybe I should write a kid’s book about the expanding rice .... woops ... there already is one.

    (That was boring. huh?)
    Bob/PKB

    No, not boring, a good warning! The water where I am is so hard and full of grit that I have to clean the filters in the faucets regularly just to keep the water flow pencil thick.
    I made pilaf last night; for once, there was none left over...used double the butter. YUM!
    itsmee

    Phyllis: Do you use tap water?
    Bob/PKB

    Filtered from my sink and 'frige, plus bottle water from a hot/cold dispense in the kitchen.

    I've never heard of landlord that would lower the monthly because 'they think you will take care of the place'.  That is a new one on me, they all expect you to take care of the place, that's why they usually charge a security deposit.  If they inspect for damage, there goes your security deposit if they find it.  I think as a rule, no landlord expects a rented place to be as good as when first rented, people do not take care of rentals like they do their own purchased home. (as a rule-not always)


    As for plumbing, this is where a landlord will draw a line in the sand, if it's normal wear and tear, the owner pays, if damage due to 'rice' and other avoidable damage, the renter will see it come off the security deposit when they leave.  I don't think most landloards will place a pay burdon on you while you live there, they do not want to have to fight for the rent and damage pmts, so I think most will deduct from security payment when you leave.

    Depends  on the lease and what the plumbing problem is.  Stoppages in a fixture are normally the renters fault 

    itsmee

    Rust made the handle of the bathroom sink come off. Land lord paid in our case.


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