Is it a tenant's job to plunge the toilet every time it blocks?

I'm currently renting a house, that is approximately 4 years old. In the 4 months I have been here, one toilet has blocked up twice and now there is a second toilet that is blocked at the same time. The PM is telling me that I just need to get myself a plunger and use it whenever a toilet blocks up.

I know I'm a bit of a princess, but is it my responsibility? As a landlord would you expect your tenant to have to do this every time the toilets are blocked? In all the places I've lived, including places I own, I've never had to do this. If I had a near new property I'd be thinking there was a plumbing issue rather than just telling the tenant to deal with it themselves.

 

Heck no!

It is the Landlord's responsibility to get the damn plumbing looked at.

 

It costs you nothing to do, I don't see why you wouldn't give it a try at least. Report back if its unsuccessful and then a plumber can be arranged.

I always remind tenants: "What would you do if it was your own PPOR? Would you spend money every week or would you actually try resolve things first?"

 

As a Landlord i've had to send out a plumber on several occasions to unblock toilets. There could be many reasons for the blockages. However when its been things like roots in the drain I pay and when its all sorts of rubbish the tenant has flushed down then the tenant reimburses me.

In your situation you should ask the PM to send someone out and take the gamble on whats blocking it.

 

Call the pm at 16:30 on Friday afternoon. Tell them it's a major sewer problem and you need a plumber there same day as there's mess all over the floor and can't stay in the place over the weekend if it can't be fixed immediately. Back it up with an email and register it through the agency work request system.

If there's no response by 17:00 call the emergency plumber listed in the lease.

I'm getting one fixed ATM. Roots have broken a pvc junction at the boundary riser. Tenants called me after 4pm and asked if it was their responsibility - fee I like commercial tenants.

 

No. There is obviously something wrong with the plumbing.

We have lived in our house for 38 years - never had a blocked toilet.

Tell the PM to fix it, or next time it blocks on a weekend you can call an emergency plumber under legislation and the landlord has to pay.
Marg

 

I think I'll send him my little guy's undies in plastic bags every time he can't get to the upstairs toilet in time.

Yeah I've used a plunger before the plumbers came out last time. Apparently they told the agent their time was wasted and I should've fixed it myself.

 

That's just evil... I like it.
Though I'd immediately send a rent increase notice (to the agent).

 

That's all well & good....BUT...one toilet has backed up TWICE in 4 months & now the second one is as well. That says to me that there's a real issue that needs fixing.

 

Yep for sure, and that should be obvious if there's notes in system of previous occurrence that a proper look is needed.

 

One of my places kept backing up, plumber found that when the place was built a T piece rather than a Y piece had been used to connect to the main line.

But people/kids stick all kinds of stuff in plumbing, gets stuck in a junction somewhere, stuff backs up on that.

My shower drain was backing up, removed the grate, felt around with a pair tongs, out comes a hair comb covered in years of hair.

Laundry floor drain was blocked with cat litter

 

I'd say judgement calls. Without knowing the specifics of the property I cant quite comment. I've seen both ends of the problems: New Tenant (single person) moved in and flush down massive volume of toilet paper. Since the ensuite one was blocked, the second one was used and both blocked, luckily not too serious before we find out. Previous Tenants are a couple and never had any complaints. When hubby found out he was quite fearful to talk to the Tenant fear of being sexist and I was sent to do the "talk"

Another property has the plumbing done wrong, and the toilet permanently stings plus drain flies. After we took over the management, we engaged a good plumber and he sorted out the plumbing, a bit like a maze really.

 

Legally? The tenant is within their rights to call the PM...

Mnor stuff that is easily rectified; I've always done it myself.

Calling up the PM to get a light bulb changed, or clean the gutters....I always do them myself.

 

Light bulbs are tenants responsibility. At least in NSW

"You are responsible for doing things like replacing light bulbs, changing the smoke detector batteries, cleaning windows, dusting, removing cobwebs and routine garden maintenance such as watering, mowing and weeding."
Getting repairs done - NSW Fair Trading

 

Thank god for that...I was worried we are moving further and further into snowflake world.

 

I want more snowflakes ❄

 

Nah; you want more tenants who can - and will - fix a few minor things and leave you the hell alone.

I reckon Resi IP's should have the same rules as Comm.

 

But they encourage resi tenants to breed by dedicating rooms to the activity.

 

Careful what you ask for.