So I am wondering how to approach this possibly bad situation we have come across. We just moved into a town home last week. My husband jumped into the shower a few days ago and I was down stairs, he was upstairs and I heard a dripping sound. I followed the noise to and noticed that there was a huge spot where the ceiling had been repaired and that was where the sound was coming from. I also noticed that there was a difference in the ceiling, a slight bulging in one are about the size of a basket ball. So today my husband gets in the shower again and I hear water splattering on my freaking carpet. Great. Fan-flippin-tastic. right?
So IT SEEMs like the maintnance man and the front desk clerk are trying to say that it was caused by a little bit of water that my husband splashed between the toilet and the shower(coudda been pee LOL) yeah right! The amount of water that came out during his shower was enough to fill up a child's sand bucket. BANGING my head against the wall. This is not what we need right now. Although I am not sure about any of this. I am afraid this is going to go on forever, there is going to be carpet damage, they are going to keep blowing it off and never fix it for real. The maint. man did put some caulking around the fixtures in the shower.
There definitively was previous damage to the ceiling or something done where the water was leaking. There is a huge patch on the ceiling and then one around that one that is much larger. We just got all unpacked and comfortable here and moving was a pain in my a** literally and back. I'd hate to have to move next year. any advice or legal advice would be extremely helpful.
ETA: We did not notice the large area on the ceiling until the day we moved in.
It sounds like there is a leak UNDER the shower... in the pipes, or something like that.....
You've got to get them in to see what is happening, plus they should know about the previous patch to the ceiling.
Sounds like the shower drain or the overflow has a leak, tell them you want it fixed.
Here's what I would do. Write a letter or send A. email (put it in writing, basically) that your family is sensitive to mold, and you have been getting headaches already, and that you feel it could be due to mold contamination. You would be shocked at how fast landlords will repair a water leak when you specifically mention mold, and that you are feeling sick from it. Make sure that you copy the property manager on this email/letter, as the front desk person and the handyman may not really have any stake in actually fixing this problem.
It sounds to me like the issue may be that the shower drain is not properly sealed, but here's the thing: once it gets to this point, the right way to fix it is to completely remove the ceiling underneath, treat for mold/mildew, fix the drain, drywall the ceiling again, and then mud/tape, then paint. It's a real pain in the neck, and very dirty work for you to have to live in the middle of. Not only that, but they should professionally clean your carpet, as well - standing water can turn the carpet padding moldy very quickly. This will be a big job, likely bigger than the handyman can handle, especially since mold remediation needs to be done by someone certified to do it. It sounds like he is unaware of mold contamination issues, as well as basic plumbing repair. You need to go over his head and make sure someone at the property manager's office is taking this seriously. Document the heck out of this issue - continue to send e-mails/letters, with pictures, until it is completely fixed. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. :(
Oh brother. What a mess. They are idiots, C.. They'll end up with mold and have to tear out the whole ceiling if they don't repair that shower.
Bug the bejeebers out of them. Call them every single day. Put a towel behind the toilet and beside the shower to prove that the water isn't coming from your husband. It's coming from a leak from the pipes being used.
Tell them that this is something that has to be fixed quicky because of mold contamination.
I'd also go ahead and call A. attorney if they won't come out and fix it. You're at the beginning of your lease and you don't want to have to deal with this all year long and them accuse YOU of causing the mold and mildew and try to charge you for all the expenses of fixing the entire ceiling. Think about it - taking showers every day is just going to ruin the ceiling.
Good luck!
Dawn
Take photos and document events, what happened, when you've called---- with dates, times, so that they do not try to blame this on you. You've only been there for a week, and obviously, this has been a problem waiting to happen, so document and protect yourselves!
This kind of leak does not just happen from a little bit of water splashing.
Keep calling until they actually solve the problem!
Good luck!
tell them it's the pipe that comes from the drain in the tub. all they have to do is cut a peice of drywall andgo up there in the ceiling and tighten the pipe fittings or replace them. that is there job. in some places you can call them up tell them that you will be getting it fixed by a certain date and if they don't come ix it by that date you get a pipe fitter to come in and fix it then deduct the amout that person charges from your rent and give them the receipt instead.
one thing i do recomend though is to report it EVERY time you see the leak, i don't care if it's every day. don't pay for it to be fixed or have them make you when you know it was prexisting and not your fault. and get renters insurance.
Oh-this ought to get you started in the right direction:
http://www.winfredclerk.com/default.htm
You'll just need to go to the courthouse and file a claim in "Landlord/Tenant" court-when it is revealed that your landlord patched the ceiling and did not do the repairs-it is going to be seen as a big no no-maybe you'll even find mold??? Another huge expense to the landlord. Take a lot of pictures-even the stains on the carpeting-put a bucket under the leak and make sure to shower as often as you normally do-photo and evidence the amount of water that leaks out each time-and time the showers if you can. Save the pieces of drywall that fall and photograph them-now I'm mad-can imagine how you are feeling! Make two sets of everything-so you are not at the mercy of someone holding on to your evidence!Good luck-now go get 'em!
Read your lease.
If this needs fixing, and the maintenance people refuse to do it, hire someone to diagnose it PROPERLY and then send them a bill. I'm betting it has nothing to do with "splashing."
Hi, C.:
Find out the owner of the townhouse property.
Not the people who are the agents, the one who
hires the agents. Find out on the web the name
to address your letter to and
tell them what you have done to take care of the
property.
Owners want their property to be taken care of.
Agents get lazy.
Good luck.
D.
If you recently closed on the house and there was a repair to the ceiling but not to the pipes and they knew about it but did not provide full duclisure, they may be responsible for the pipe repair plus the ceiling repair. Call the realtor/lawyer you used for closing.
