My Landlord Hasn't Repaired My Sewage Problem – How Long Must I Wait?

As a renter, you pay monthly for the privilege of living in a home that comes with certain benefits. One of the most important is knowing that most repairs will be handled at no cost to you.

Yet what if you are still waiting for your sewage problem to be repaired? Just ?

When a , it may be aggravatingly challenging to pursue a solution on your own – but DoNotPay offers a quick, simple way to handle the details for you.

Isn't My Landlord Required to Repair My Sewage Problem?

Landlords must make sure renters are provided with rentals in which they may reasonably live. This certainly includes the expectation of a functional sewage system.

A legal implied warranty of habitability benefits tenants that requires landlords to provide them with comfortable and safe homes in which to live. This does not need to be spelled out clearly in the rental agreement, but it does mean tenants have every right to reside in a rented place that has:

Adequate electricity
Adequate plumbing
Entry points (windows, doors) that can be secured
Functioning smoke detectors
Hot and clean drinking water
A working sewage system
Not been infested with insects or rodents

How Should I Handle a Sewage Problem in My Rental?

If your sewage is not functioning, it can become a health hazard.

Make sure your repair request is submitted in writing. This will serve as a paper trail indicating how long ago you made the request.
Take pictures and note the dates and times of specific problems if you can.
Send the request to the landlord's address, if possible. Your rent book should provide the address and using registered mail is an option to consider.
Give your rental owner a reasonable time to complete the fix. Although "reasonable" has no strict definition, use common sense. Sewage backing up into a sink might be more urgent than the occasional clogged toilet.

What's Next if My Landlord Does Not Fix My Problem?

For problems that violate the warranty of habitability or pose immediate safety or health risks to tenants, landlords have a reasonable amount of time to complete repairs depending on local state law. It is important to contact the landlord in writing. What is considered a reasonable amount of time will vary by state law and the seriousness and urgency of the problem.

Many states give landlords 30 days to fix a problem, but others will only allow three to seven days for serious issues, such as lack of heat or running water. Consult city and state laws to see if specific timeframes apply to your location.

If your sewage problem is not repaired within a reasonable period, consider:

Make Repairs and Subtract Cost

This practice is legal in many areas. If possible, you may make arrangements to correct the problem on your own. After the fix is complete, you may deduct the repair cost from your next rental payment. This way, you can get the sewage issue taken care of on your own schedule at (ultimately) no cost to you.

Stop Paying Rent Temporarily

Some states allow you to refuse to pay rent until repairs are made legally. This idea has some negative consequences, however:

You may be suffering from your sewage problem for a long time

If you do not follow the law exactly, you might face legal eviction, which will be on your record in the future

Claim Constructive Eviction

You can consider moving out of your rental home and refusing to make any further rent payments. Be aware this can be a challenging legal strategy to follow, and if it is not performed properly, it could result in your eviction.

Is There an Easier Way to Handle a Landlord Who Will Not Make Repairs?

Dealing with landlord repair issues can be aggravating and time-consuming. A handy alternative is . Our product can simplify the entire process, and we are confident you will find it to be:

Quick – You will not need to spend hours attempting to solve this problem
Easy – No struggling to fill out long, tedious forms or keep track of multiple steps
Successful – You may rest assured we will make the best case for you

How to Send/Create/Make a Repair Notice to/for a Landlord With DoNotPay

DoNotPay is here to guide you through this hassle and file your disputes on your behalf. Our Landlord Protection product can help you resolve disputes regarding repairs with your landlord:

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

And that's it! You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

Review these related articles about problems for which we can provide help:

DoNotPay can give you an easy, automated way to help with a wide list of problems. We offer many additional products to help simplify your life, including (but not limited to):

Our products can supply you with easy, automated ways to deal with the troubles of an uncooperative landlord, and they can certainly help with other tedious and annoying tasks we encounter in life. Let us help!