Mud and sewage residue on a floor beside a worker in a yellow suit

Mud and sewage residue on a floor beside a worker in a yellow suit. A general example of this kind of work, not a photo of a particular home, business or job.

The situation

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

In this illustrative example, a tenant rents a basement bedroom and bathroom in a house whose owner lives out of state. Upstairs is rented to a separate household. One evening the basement shower drain fills with dark water and the bathroom floor is soon covered.

  1. The tenant moves belongings off the floor, puts on gloves and photographs the shower, floor and bedroom doorway.
  2. The tenant knocks upstairs and asks the other household to stop using water.
  3. A text and voicemail to the landlord go unanswered, so the tenant sends an email describing the backup, with photos and the time.
  4. The tenant calls the property manager number on the lease the next morning and gets a plumber scheduled.
  5. The plumber clears the lateral and notes a heavy grease buildup.
  6. The tenant contacts their renters insurer about damaged clothing, a rug and a desk chair.

The bathroom floor and bedroom carpet near the doorway were removed by the owner's cleanup contractor. The tenant stayed with a friend for several nights, kept receipts, and the renters policy reviewed the personal property claim separately from the owner's building claim.

What the tenant did well

  1. Documented before moving things.Photos showed which belongings were on the floor and how far the water reached.
  2. Gave notice in writing.The email created a clear time record when phone calls went unanswered.
  3. Stopped the upstairs flow.Asking the other household to hold off on water use limited how much came up.
  4. Called their own insurer.The tenant did not assume the landlord's policy would cover personal items.

Questions the tenant asked the landlord

  1. When will the cleanup start, and who is doing it?
  2. Will the carpet and lower drywall be removed, not just cleaned?
  3. Can rent be reduced for nights the room is not usable?
  4. Will the line be inspected to prevent another backup?

Common questions

Should a tenant hire cleanup themselves?

Usually not without the landlord's agreement, since the building and its materials belong to the owner. Tenants can protect belongings and document; for urgent safety issues, check the lease and ask a tenant resource about rights.

General information for Thornton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.