Raw sewage on property

[beachgurl]

Weve had some plumbing issues at of our properties. Tree roots have gone into the pipes and we've had to get a plumber to put an eel through. Instead of the tenants calling the emergency plumbing contact or calling the agent they decided to open the plugs outside the house and let the raw sewage flow into the backyard. The tenants have now given notice as its a health hazard. The agent has gone down there and have told us it can't be re tenanted until we remove the mess and the smell.
Would any time of insurance cover us here? We spoke to the plumber yesterday who put the eel through a little while back who said that there was no need for them to open the pipes themselves and if he'd been called when the blockage occurred he'd been able to fix it without issue.
Is this the fault of the tenant for damaging property or do we just have to suck it up and have it fixed out of our own pocket with no help from our insurance?

 

[wylie]

How much seeped out? How big a clean up is involved?

We had this happen several times in one IP, probably every six months or so we were spending $100 or so to have the eel through. Finally bit the bullet and had the whole sewer run in plastic. Changed where it ran too as we had planned on developing in the back of this block, so we ran it to the side and then down the length of the yard rather than in the middle.

It must be bad if the tenants are leaving over it. You could say they should not have opened the inspection plate, but if they are determined to leave, there is possibly nothing you can do to change their mind. I don't know where you stand regarding the fact that it was them who caused the spillage.

Maybe try to take the clean up costs (who would clean this up???) from their bond. Maybe tell them you will be doing that, and if they stay, you will cover it. I would guess cleaning it up would cost less than the cost of losing a week's rent and the cost of re-letting.

A few times, we were advised by the neighbours that sewerage was leaking into the yard, a few times by the tenant. We never had to clean anything up though, as it was looked after by the plumber. I'm assuming he just hosed it down. We never had to discuss "cleaning up" the leak, so it cannot have been much.

 

[handyandy]

Instead of the tenants calling the emergency plumbing contact or calling the agent they decided to open the plugs outside the house and let the raw sewage flow into the backyard. The tenants have now given notice as its a health hazard. The agent has gone down there and have told us it can't be re tenanted until we remove the mess and the smell.

Would you have preferred if the tenants let the sewage come up in the bathroom?

How soon after the block was the plumber onsite? Are we talking a day or 2 or even a week. How many people in the house - how much sewage could possibly be involved.

Generally its a hose down into the grass. The toilet paper is about the only things thats distinguishable and that's only small bits so really what's there to clean up. Maybe it's the mindset of the tenants that needs cleaning to get them over the idea that sewage was on the grass.

You should really have a gully on the sewage pipe so that if there is a blockage the sewage will automatically escape out of the gully rather than comming up in the house or unit.

We ones had a 1st floor unit that was empty and had no gully and off course the inevitable blockage - man was it a mess - like a volcano in the unit, I will say no more

 

[vaughan]

It sounds like the sewer needs major work, that will be easier without tenants.

As for the sewerage: hose it in, then fertilise all the lawns and gardens with Dynamic Lifter -- it's the right time of year anyway.

 

[willair]

Weve had some plumbing issues at of our properties. Tree roots have gone into the pipes and we've had to get a plumber to put an eel through. Instead of the tenants calling the emergency plumbing contact or calling the agent they decided to open the plugs outside the house and let the raw sewage flow into the backyard. The tenants have now given notice as its a health hazard. The agent has gone down there and have told us it can't be re tenanted until we remove the mess and the smell.
Would any time of insurance cover us here? We spoke to the plumber yesterday who put the eel through a little while back who said that there was no need for them to open the pipes themselves and if he'd been called when the blockage occurred he'd been able to fix it without issue.
Is this the fault of the tenant for damaging property or do we just have to suck it up and have it fixed out of our own pocket with no help from our insurance?

Sounds like it's backed up and backflowed back up through the entire system,or one of the lines is cracked and the roots have come in so it may pay to run a camera down the entire system,because if the pipes are cracked then every six months the same will happen over and over again plus depending on who lives next door,and they ring the local council the **it hits the fan in a big way..