Storm Drain Ponging' Wondering if R/E (Owner) of Units Now Selling to Shirk Cost & Responsibility

[Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 15:31

Wonder if anyone has experience of knowledge about such matters.

Were renting a unit that has 4 other rental units in a group of units in a Western Sydney Suburb. Most all of us have indeed noticed that there is a sewerage smell coming from the larger storm drain grills of which there are about 6 scattered around the entire property. It's quite clear that the odour is not just rotting matter but sewerage. It's worse on somedays and only just noticeable on others if you are in proximity or above one of the drains (they are covered by large metal grills).
We did ask the R/E agent to have looked into. They sent out a plumber who seemed to indicate that indeed there was a problem so had hoped action would be taken. Nothing was done for months so I called Sydney Water. A neighbour said they recollected a very young man, assumedly from Sydney Water come out and simply took a 'whiff' of the air and in his opinion felt there wasn't an issue, when most certainly there is. Said neighbour was a bit foggy about the details/I'm working during the days so not typically home.

I would imagine such health related matters and their resolve would mean Sydney Water would have authority to force the owners of the property to have the pipes or whatever fixed. So anyways time went by and all of us were sent a notice that inspections of the Units by prospective buyers would be occurring. I have been wondering if the owner has had the situation assessed and I'm quite certain repairs would be quite costly, thus the impetus for selling out. My question is does anyone have any ideas on how to effect the situation? Does Sydney Water have the power to force the owner to do repairs to broken pipes? Pretty sure the Plumber said that sewerage was breaching into the storm water channels on the property. Doesn't seem right to me that some 2 years later we are still suffering with this.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 15:44
    +2

    Doesn't seem right to me that some 2 years later we are still suffering with this.

    How long does your rental contract go for?

    I can't imagine it is all that bad or you wouldn't have renewed the lease.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 15:51

      As I said, it's not so bad on many days. Also the location is very conducive to my work and I like the layout of the unit.
      Thanks anyways.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 15:52
        +1

        A lot of people are selling investment units as part of the stricter lending criteria, economic downturn, etc. Etc.

        If the smell isn't that bad and authorities have checked it out, I doubt the sale is related to the smell.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 16:00

          A fair point.
          Cheers.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 16:30
    +2

    If you don't own it, I wouldn't worry about it, not your problem. If they are doing as you suspect the new owner will find out pretty quick from water Corp who will want an update.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 16:45

      Good point. Hoping though other suggestions might be added as the odour can be pretty awful on some days.
      Would like to hear if there might be a more direct route or recommended path of communication so appropriate repairs might be enforced and affected.

  • Seraphin7 on 23/04/2019 - 18:26
    +3

    Right now the only thing you can do is scare away a potential buyer … and where will that land you? Right back where you are now with a (possibly) uninterested owner who, if your assumption is correct, will simply keep kicking this problem down the road as long as they can.

    Alternatively, allow the new owner to come onboard, "make it their problem" as part of taking on the property and bringing it up to scratch and see where that gets you. Worst case, you're no worse off than you are now. Best case, they take action and a couple of months later you're problem's sorted.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 18:51
      +1

      The pragmatist in me is basking in the pragmatic glow of your perspective.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 19:17
      +1

      A great suggestion and excellent perspective. Will definitely meditate on. There have been about 4 groups of people through the place so far over about a four month period and I haven't said anything… a passing thought though perhaps. But as you suggest, what good would that do and is more likely to leave us with the same seemingly indifferent (current) owner. I think it would be unethical to say anything about it to prospective buyers but of course some might say where are the ethics of the owner under the circumstances. Others might say it's just business I suppose, certainly not very ethical in my books though. Better to hold hope in a new owner is again a great suggestion.

      Thanks for adding this.

  • mini2 on 23/04/2019 - 19:16
    +1

    Sydney Water don't care if the problem is outside of their sewage mains, if they didn't caused it or doesn't affect them. How to convey this information to Sydney Water is a different matter.

    Let me guess, a long stretch of cracked/broken pipes that needs to be dug up and replaced? I can see why the landlord couldn't be arsed - had to do something similar in the past, 4m deep 1m long pipe with just soil on top ended costing me $4k some 6 years ago. I could only imagine a longer/deeper/concrete covered pipe going to be substantially more.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 19:24

      Well, maybe technically it is not their responsibility as you elude to so I may be holding out misdirected hope and making assumptions. Just would have imagined they would intrinsically have some responsibility and/or power in such matters even if only to make and enforce judgements. I think your analogy is very much and likely the case to the larger degree. Could cost double what you paid as you also suggest. Who can say what effect an extra 8 g's is going to have on your average investor. Negligible to some and a complete deal breaker for others without a doubt.

      Thank you for adding your comment.

  • crentist on 23/04/2019 - 19:22
    +1

    squeeze some toilet duck into the drain

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 19:30

      Funny thing is, I did do some research on some sort of fragrant stuff I could just pour a litre or so into the drain once a month or so. Pretty sure that would be illegal from a technical point of view though and the smell also emits from some if not all of the other drains so many a litre would likely be required in the case it worked. Or a box/boxes of Baking Powder… (or is it Soda?) to sort of absorb the odours.
      Certainly open to suggestions here, but again, would have to imagine is illegal and not good for the environment etc.

      Cheers.

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