Landlord Forcing Tenant to Pay for Plumber

Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 17:59
Last edited 19/02/2025 - 11:49

We have been living on the first floor of a 3 story apartment for several years now, and have had drainage problems with the kitchen sink, recently (it would bring up water and foul stuff when a dishwasher is used).

Stainers are used and my mother does not put any oil down the sink (neither do I)

The new property owner had the dishwasher replaced, he himself thought it was the dish washer.

The problem continued

(The property owner told me that if a plumber is called it would be due to the "fact" that the blockage would be caused by us, he works in construction)

The real estate sent plumbers, who I described the problem to and they assured me that they cannot state the exact cause of blockage is due to us mentioning, that it could be from surrounding apartments above us.

They plunged the sink for 3 or 5 minutes and left. The blockage was cleared.

Fast forward a week later, on the invoice the plumbers have stated upon inspection of the kitchen sink the blockage was from grease and food debris.

A apart of me thinks the plumber is known to the real estate or owner and they just asked them to write whatever they want on the invoice. This is really fucked.

What to do in this situation.

Is it 100% the tenants liability in this situation?

I cannot prove anything the plumber said as it was all verbal.

Called plumber and they told me to message them they were driving, they have not replied to my text.

This is the invoice description After that Starr partners sent us the invoice referring to it as plumbing problem tenant fault.
Really sorry for such a long post

Home & Garden

Comments

  • mrkorrupt on 18/02/2025 - 18:02
    +2

    Fair Trading or Equivalent in your state

    • HeWhoKnows on 20/02/2025 - 19:12
      -1

      No need to Contact FT

      Its pretty straight forward really

      1. OP has been living on the first floor of a 3 story apartment for several years now so clear it wasnt an existing problem when OP moved in. So cant blame the landlard on that basis
      2. The plumber plungered the kitchen sink for 3 or 5 minutes and left. The blockage was cleared. So obviously the problem was a blockage in OPs sink as per the invoice. Sorry but you cant blame anyone else nor the landlord for that either OP.
      3. The agent sent OP a bill based on the plumbers report on the invoice so you lose again OP
        The evidence weighs heavily against you on this one
        But $220 seems rather excess to unblock a kitchen sink.
        Depends how long they were there investigating and how much of thier time OP wasted
        How much is a plumber's call out fee these days?????
    • tenpercent on 18/02/2025 - 18:23
      +3

      on the cheap

      You aren't doing landlording right if your tenants are living "on the cheap".

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 18:24
      +1

      We aren't living for cheap it's a head lease property that housing is leasing as a "short term" accomdination. While the rent is subsidized for us the owner gets paid in full.

      Think it's $750 or $770 p/w for 3 bedroom apartment, in western sydney. Roughly 20 km from Sydney CBD.

      • tenpercent on 18/02/2025 - 18:49
        +1

        Landlord (probably): Well it sounds like ya living the dream then! Cough up ya tenant scum.

        /s

      • LFO on 19/02/2025 - 18:11

        While the rent is subsidized for us

        Keen to know what this exactly means.
        You are subsidizing your own rent?

        • larndis on 19/02/2025 - 18:24

          Government subsidised maybe? IDK what a 'head lease property' means

  • JimmyF on 18/02/2025 - 18:42
    +1

    What to do in this situation.

    How much is the invoice?

  • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 18:53
    +2

    Look for Drain Addict on the youtubers (he's in Sydney)…..if Ollie (maggie, little maggie and croc can't fix your woes (I forgot who else is in the crew nowdays)….you're stuffed ;)
    Search for his business DrainGo in Sydney…..if he don't make you happy he'll certainly make youtube happy trying ;)

    He's a good honest bloke…..and also a tenacious bastard, he'll rarely gives up …. give him a call ;)

    • tenpercent on 18/02/2025 - 19:02
      +1

      Are you Drain Addict?

      • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 19:11
        +2

        Nope…..just a hard working chippie in Canberra who appreciates good honest tradies….
        Like Me !…..ha

        • tenpercent on 18/02/2025 - 20:25

          chippie

          I'll keep you in mind if I ever get the munchies next time I'm in Canberra.

    • Gdsamp on 18/02/2025 - 19:02

      watched many of his videos during covid lockdowns…..

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 19:28
      +2

      I'm a bit confused by the point of this comment, the drain was cleared.

      • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 19:55

        "The problem continued" was the last mention I can see…..

        • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 20:01

          Yeah i mentioned that they plunged the sink for a few minutes. But that doesn't exactly tell you the outcome.

          They did clear the blockage which i'm assuming was little since they used a plunger…

          • OMGJL on 18/02/2025 - 21:32
            +7

            @Tehcookiemonsta: I'd only call for a plumber if plunger didn't work. Now you need to fight for the $220 instead of just buying a $5 plunger.

    • brad1-8tsi on 19/02/2025 - 12:26

      I got Ollie out to do a blocked drain in our townhouse complex years ago.

      We spent more time chatting than what he did fixing the blocked drain that the owner claimed they never put oil or food scraps down (just like the OP).

      It was $180 which I thought reasonable for a fairly disgusting job.

  • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 19:50

    Be interesting to to see what these so called plumbers billed the Real Estate/Owner for…..I don't think it's a stretch they both got screwed for a 5min job. If the OP is being legit in this tale then get the RE to get them back and get them to camera the sink/kitchen drainage and prove their claim….

    "(The property owner told me that if a plumber is called it would be due to the "fact" that the blockage would be caused by us, he works in construction)"…..complete and utter s h i t !!!

    The blockage is caused by?…..who the hell knows, because some utterly useless twats were sent around and they did sweet F all for a fistfull of dollars !
    Stand your ground OP…..take it to the rental tribunal if you must, don't bend over to this scum.

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 19:58
      +1

      I'm not lying the only problem is a can't really prove anything, when the plumber came he seemed to tell the truth and mentioned that the exact cause cant be known we are on the first floor with 2 floors above us.

      Bit hesitant to call the plumber back as i might get charged for that as well.

      My mother said she will refuse to pay, so uhh will be interesting to see where this goes.

  • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 20:05

    So just to clear up the confusion…..it's still blocked ?

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 20:07

      Nah i have edited the post to make it clearer,

      The drain was cleared is what the plumbers stated. We haven't had problems since.

      • MS Paint on 18/02/2025 - 21:09
        +7

        Buy yourself a $3.75 plunger from Bunnings to avoid it happening again. Plunge away for a minute or so every few months.

      • Hard-Yakka on 18/02/2025 - 21:39
        +1

        Ok cool….
        what I do is dump a jug full of boiling water down the sink every 3 or 4 weeks, no fatbergs here !….it works a treat so far ;)

        but the shitter here is another story for another day ;)

  • simplystu on 18/02/2025 - 20:36

    reminds me of recent scenario with my GF's rental …

    dishwasher drain was clogged - tenants tried everything (including YT video demos) to unblock it.
    finally, owner called a plumber out.

    Turns out, the house plumbing for dishwasher to external waste outlet (originally installed when house was built) - was below minimum required size (no wonder it got blocked).
    Dodgy house builder/tradie to begin with.

    But yeah - not upto tenants to pay for such things … same with electricians (atleast here in WA).
    Owner needs to provide a "livable" standard of house/accommodation.

  • bargaino on 18/02/2025 - 20:47
    +3

    They plunged the sink for 3 or 5 minutes and left.

    Calling a plumber before attempting basic fixes like a plunger and caustic soda is rather wasteful of money.
    Like calling an electrician for a blown light-bulb or tripped fuse.

    I blame both the tenant and landlord for that. Plumbers don't do a long apprenticeship in order to change washers and plunge toilets. They will despise people for such call-outs and charge accordingly.

    • MS Paint on 18/02/2025 - 21:12

      Yep. Can't believe common sense, perhaps a Google search or a $4 plunger was not thought of first. FFS some people drive me bonkers and waste so much money.

      • simplystu on 18/02/2025 - 22:13
        +2

        OP did mention BOTH kitchen sink + dishwasher having issues … so a plunger may not work in this case.
        Even if both ultimately have the same connecting drain … using a plunger on just the sink, won't always fix dishwasher issues.

        IMO - as per my GF's case … ultimate issue, could be more "downstream" - pipe where they both connect +++ then flow onto waste-water pipe.

        • skid on 18/02/2025 - 23:47

          OP said that the plumber used a plunger to clear the drain.

          • simplystu on 19/02/2025 - 00:09
            +1

            @skid: (to the kitchen sink) …
            yet dishwasher having issues too.

            how many times have you heard a plumber using a plunger on a dishwasher ???

            • skid on 19/02/2025 - 07:40

              @simplystu: The point of the post is the OP feels that they shouldn't be bearing the cost of the plumber who spent 3-5 minutes fixing the drain.

              • Tehcookiemonsta on 19/02/2025 - 07:56
                +2

                @skid: No… the point is the plumber mentioned that they cannot state thr exact cause of the blockage is due to food and grease specifically from my apartment, as i live on the first floor and theres 2 floors above me. The problem is he said this verballyand wrote something different

      • Clear on 18/02/2025 - 22:31

        I once had tenants that insisted the REA gets a maintenance guy in because the toilet roll holder was a bit lose. Why should I pay $100 for a callout when they can tighten the visible screw themselves? All common sense goes out the door with some renters.

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 22:15

      My mum put vinegar down the drain, I didn't call the plumber my mother contacted housing, which contacted REA which contacted the plumber.

    • loadofrubbish on 19/02/2025 - 09:38

      My tenant consistently blocks the bathroom sink with hair. I have already sent a plumber three times in 2024 and covered the costs myself.

  • Protractor on 18/02/2025 - 20:48
    -1

    Move on. It could have been an issue simmering before you got there. Hard to prove. Not worth the effort. It's a landlords world.
    Also the issue is resolved. Just saying.

  • skid on 18/02/2025 - 21:31

    Think of it as a youtube video showing how to use a plunger to clear a kitchen sink which you subscribed to for $220.

    Every few weeks, pour a jug of boiling water down the drain to help keep it clear.

    The RE should have asked if you had tried to clear the drain before calling out a plumber.

    If it were caused by the surrounding apartments, why didn't they call a plumber first?

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 22:17

      We did try to clear the drain with boiling water & Vinegar, we don't deal directly with RE since we are housing.

  • Drpepper666 on 18/02/2025 - 21:36
    -1

    Clearing a drain is basic maintenance that people do themselves at any share house I've ever lived in

    Entitled rentoids strike again

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 18/02/2025 - 22:25
      +1

      It was the first blockage since 8 Years (the only blockage) we had at this property. We did attempt to clear it with vinegar and boiling water

  • Drakesy on 18/02/2025 - 21:59
    +1

    Landlord needs to get a plumber out there stat.

    If the problem was caused by a blockage from the tenant then the tenant pays (gunk, hair etc.)
    If the problem is because of years of fat/oil/age of the plumbing/blocked aerator valve (possibly the cause) then it's on the landlord.

  • Dollar General on 19/02/2025 - 08:00
    +1

    Perhaps offer to pay half and see how that goes

  • Benno007 on 19/02/2025 - 08:30
    +1

    As a landlord in the past, I ensured drains were cleaned between tenants and had evidence . When my next tenant wanted to call a plumber 1 year in, I was like hmm no let me check first. Sure enough they had clogged it up with their hair, and just didn’t know how to clear drains of minor clogs… unscrewing the sink cover, lots of boiling water or draino etc go a long way for solving basic problems… and I thought everyone knew how plungers worked for drainage issues…

    Every rental I’ve ever lived at I put kettles of boiling water down drains quarterly until the common drain is clear of scunge, and draino for dissolving hairs and stuff caught in it. Helps keep down odors and get rid of flies as well

    If it was obviously your fault (if the landlord has evidence it was cleaned before) then Imo you should pay it.

    If it’s in contention and I had no evidence, and it’s a one off, I’d first ask to split pro-rated based on length of stay.

    Otherwise if it’s a problem elsewhere in the complex or further down the drains then I’d pay it. If it’s in more than 1 drain or keeps coming back despite you not putting stuff down it then I’d imagine it’s a wider problem

    Though my tenant cracked my sink, and was allowed to get away without replacing it because apparently ‘old sinks can crack’…. My grandparents have had the same sink for 70 years… mine was 11 years old. My guess is they just lent on it too heavily or dropped something on it

    • kiitos on 19/02/2025 - 09:28

      What evidence do you have that the drains are cleared? Do you do it yourself, or get a plumber to run an eel down the drains?

      • Benno007 on 20/02/2025 - 08:48
        +1

        Just referring to the main access points as these are the ones I’d expect to be blocked due to tenants putting stuff down, sink to common drain. But I do have a borescope.i use

  • Msfrugal on 19/02/2025 - 09:18
    +2

    I had this exact problem last week. Blocked drain kitchen sink. I love problem solving , even better when don’t have to pay someone when I can learn and do myself . So satisfying.

    Used garden hose down main drainpipe (removed and cleaned the connecting pipes from under sink.
    Push down as far as I could and full blast. Ugh the smell of the wash back . Disgusting!

    It actually cleared the blockage. But I didn’t realize that at the time.

    So more googling and off to plumbing shop next morning for auger(plumbing snake $60)
    While there he asked did I use plunger and I said I didn’t have one. He went and got me a plunger - not the little black rubber circle one but a proper plunger.
    $30 - he said that probably would have done it as very powerful pressure.

    Came home discovered hose had cleared blockage but I also went further and put some chemical down there for 30 mins to further remove the fatberg.

    I have housemates that don’t seem to know that COLD water doesn’t dissolve grease.
    not bolt that but I was also raised to wipe out excess grease in pans with paper towel before washing as then it doesn’t go down sink.

    Recommend everyone get a proper plumber plunger and use as first option .

    I would absolutely fight paying for the plumber your stupid and greedy landlord has demanded. I’m a former landlord and as the plumber confirmed not indentifiable as your unit - I’d stay firm with that.
    Best to you .

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 19/02/2025 - 11:48

      "I’m a former landlord and as the plumber confirmed not identifiable as your unit - I’d stay firm with that."

      Yeah, the problem is he said that verbally and I obviously was not voice recording him. From now on if any service person comes to my house to do work I'm voice recording them I don't give a shit about any legislation. People have no problem lying straight to your face and then writing something else on an invoice.

      This is the invoice description After that Starr partners sent us the invoice referring it as tenant has caused it.

  • larndis on 19/02/2025 - 09:34
    +1

    Maybe try the Tenant's Advice Line?

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 19/02/2025 - 11:53

      Sent them an email, i don't think they will advise us since this is a property housing is renting as a "head lease"

  • jv on 19/02/2025 - 17:14

    They plunged the sink for 3 or 5 minutes and left. The blockage was cleared.

    Why didn't you try that first?

  • jrvb42 on 19/02/2025 - 18:43

    I think you might have a problem, only due to the fact you have lived there for years without making it an issue. The landlord can therefore easily claim the drain wasn't blocked when you moved in, and hence the drainage issue must have been caused during your tenancy, that is, by you.
    Always point out any issues, in writing, at commencement of tenancy. Then you're covered.

  • ramb9 on 21/02/2025 - 11:04

    Hey man, id like to think im a reasonable landlord and i generally pay for every random nitty gritty my tenant requests.
    eg. AC service because it supposedly its smelly.

    But in this case, youve been living there for 8 years. Id say its reasonable to assume over the 8 years you would have likely contributed to it being blocked.

    If you lived there for 1-2 years, yeah whatever landlord should probably pay as it may have been from before, but 8. Its probably on you.

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