NSW Septic Smell in unit bathrooms - pre purchase

Discussion in 'Property Analysis' started by Peculiar About Parramatta, 12th Sep, 2021.

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  1. Peculiar About Parramatta

    Peculiar About Parramatta New Member

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    Anyone know much about plumbing in high-rise apartments?
    • 1st inspection of unit - all good - agents there ahead of time
    • 2nd inspection - agent forgot about appointment so we entered unit at same time and sigificant septic smell from both bathrooms
    • Strata report says nothing about septic or plumbing issues
    • Building constructed in 2018
    My instinct is to run. And that the agent was trying to hide it and goofed. Plumbing complicated I think in large high-rises (which I know are a risk in themselves).

    Looking for confirmation or someone who's experienced something similar.

    Always appreciate the feedback - even if its harsh.
     
  2. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Has it been vacant for a while? The s-bend traps might be dried out (or syphoned due to pressure differences) - running some water down all the drains would fix this one.

    The Y-man
     
  3. Sheshop

    Sheshop Well-Known Member

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    Yep, that's what I was thinking. My guest bathroom used to stink from lack of use. I'd flush the toilet and run the tap every now and again to get the smell out.
     
  4. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    The floor waste at my work used to smell - pouring water down it really helped.
     
  5. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    Our downstairs bathroom used to smell a bit and our plumber (or it could have been the certifier) said 80% of lower level bathrooms tend to do this.

    Adding water regularly keeps the smell down, and you can also get a one way funnel type of insert that allows the floor drain to do the job it was designed for but stop the odour getting into the room.

    We have no issue with it these days since doing these things.
     
  6. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    Run anyway as it’s a high rise apartment.
     
  7. Car tart

    Car tart Well-Known Member

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    Most importantly who is the builder(not the developer).

    Whilst I give no worries to the s trap smell. Parramatta is the centre for the now famous builders like Messrs Nassif, Merhi and others who have left a cavalcade of high rise Domino like structures each with no builders warranty under NSW legislation and many of these buildings with 20 million dollars plus worth of work hidden from local agents, other owners and even the strata managers. Just google building problems parramatta units and you will find some.

    Others sack their strata agent and try and sell their units before it becomes publicly known.

    Merhis buildings in Western Sydney incomplete, full of defects: owners

    These Sydney apartment towers were built in 2018 — now the owners are suing for alleged ‘defects’

    Parramatta apartment towers: Developer forced to fix serious defects
     
  8. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    I bet it’s ground floor unit or 1st floor if garages on ground floor.

    It’s the plumbing phenomenon called sewerage back flow.

    A blocked sewer pipe results in all the sewer backflowing into the first exit point ... usually the ground floor or 1st floor unit but actually can happen to any level unit depending on where the blockage is located.

    The overflowing sewer can swamp the unit and the smell can linger for months esp in a locked unit.
     
  9. Peculiar About Parramatta

    Peculiar About Parramatta New Member

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    Thanks all. I bailed. I was in pretty deep to but Luckily got holding deposit back as owner hadn't returned a signed contract.

    It HAD been unoccupied for awhile as non furnished so perhaps just a simple fix. Was on floor 27 of 43 and a few others told me if it's not a simple fix you spend ages trying to figure out what side of the strata/owner boundary wall it is. I probably panicked too given all the horror stories I've read on high rises.

    Buying a flat...well it sucks. I've inspected 8 and bought a $250 strata report each time...most of them have litigation for cladding pre 2018, have special levies or bad admin/sinking balances and even when you find a good one they don't tell the whole story.

    @Car tart - no idea. Been to Parra's council website, Nsw Planning portal couldn't find it and not sure where else to look. I read about Imperial, River Road West (toplace who are also behind Castlehill Skyview I believe. I was in Spotless stadium Christmas eve a few years back when people started getting messages about a nearby tower possibly ready to collapse

    Anyway, thanks all. Likely dodged a bullet here.
     
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  10. Trainee

    Trainee Well-Known Member

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    So, why are you still looking at high rises?
     
  11. Car tart

    Car tart Well-Known Member

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    My sister is looking for another unit for investment and I wouldn’t dissuade her. (She already has 7 and being single doesn’t like the work involved with buying investment houses) she is looking walk to parramatta station up to $600k. My two single daughters also specialise in buying investment home units as they are workaholic single women.

    There are great properties out there, the one I looked at for my sister was in Betts Street, huge in size, over 10 years old, reasonable levy, well built building and over $80,000 in the strata account with no anticipated major expenditure in a block of 24.
    It cost her nothing to find out all this, it’s simply a matter of asking the right questions and knowing where to look.
     
  12. Peculiar About Parramatta

    Peculiar About Parramatta New Member

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    There are always exceptions. Boutique blocks of 15-25 units. I'm aware of one that I'd buy in a heartbeat but surprise, not many for sale. The other factor is I can't afford a house
     
    Car tart likes this.

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