I live in an apartment complex that 40 years old, poor water pressure & lack of hot water, day or night. Recently the landlord has " suggested " that I or the tenant who lives above me is using " too much soap" & now those bubbles are backing up into 1st floor apartment tub & toilet. Sounds like the need to snake the drains or clean sewer lines , how can the landlord state such silly claims, based " upon their theory"...
Please advise
Thanks
Kim

Hey Kim, they can claim anything, hoping you may "offer" to pay for a cleanout. If it's backing up into 1st floor tubs, the blockage is past them. Smile and say "I'll try very hard to use less soap" and then ignore the landlord.

I'd go a step further and tell him its HIS duty to rod the pipes, tenants are not responsible for plumbing failures

Plus, since the sewer is shared by both tenants it's a "common area" and does not fall under any one of the units. The soap excuse by the landlord is laughable and not worth considering. Just as he wouldn't ask you to pay for painting his house he shouldn't ask you to pay for the upkeep of his property. Good luck Kim, Tom

Thanks to everyone who answered my question. I agree, it is not my responsibility to care for their plumbing /sewer issues . I spoke with the property management company contact yesterday who now claims
"this has been going on for 2 years ?!". I asked her had they ever considered cleaning/snaking the drains or checking the underground (city) main sewer line for problems ? Duh, they never thought of that. Next Monday they will be in my apartment to do a "water test, with & without soap". Keep you posted with next week's "test results"!

Water test or not a properly clean drain line will not back up just because of suds. What kind and how much "soap" are we talking?

Next Monday they will be in my apartment to do a "water test, with & without soap".
With or without soap?
More likely "without brains".
They're going to all this trouble just to prove you wrong whenb allm they have to do is snake the lines? Unbelievable!
Even the most inexperienced maintenance man knows that when something backs up that there is a blockage somewhere in the system. You don't have a management group, you have a bunch of clowns that should be sent back to the circus where they belong. Just my opinion, Tom

Thanks Tom, I agree, they are idiots! The on-site manager has strong hostility towards tenants who refuse to be pushed around & complain about shoddy maintenance repairs. So they are doing all of this just to upset me & create " problems" where none exist... I did email the County I reside in & spoke with a Housing Attorney ( just to see what my rights are & how I can protect myself). I am not sure what type of "suds or bubbles " they are referring to , next step will be a DNA test on the bubbles, just kidding .
I use basic soap, water shampoo, they even asked for a list of my personal bath care items !

they even asked for a list of my personal bath care items ! Their next questions will be about your sex life.
My advice, Get the other tenets together, hire a lawyer and sue hell out of those fools. Good luck and keep us posted. Tom

Greetings ! The landlord was in my apartment on 11/28/11, did a " drain test with soap bubbles , answer " unable to recreate the problem i.e. Bubbles backing up in the drain of the lower level apartment" .

I live on second floor. A few days later noted the main (city) sewer line had the dirt dug up around it, with yellow caution lights, hmmm..... landlord said " we may need to re enter your apartment at a later date"

If you're looking to duplicate the bubble thingy then load your washer up with soap and cycle it. Bet you'll get some results from that. Has he snaked the drains yet? Let me know, Tom

Hi Tom,

I don't know whether the drain in my apartment or first floor apartment's drain was snaked ? They don't tell me anything.I don't have a washer in my apartment complex. But the city must has been called as the main sewer line (outside of the building, near garages has recently had work done , not sure what ?) Another new notice posted this weekend from landlord : the city is installing a new water meter tomorrow , water shut off from 8am-5pm . The Housing Attorney I spoke with last week ( indicated documentation any & all repairs ). So hopefully, they will not need to enter my apartment again, if they do; I am asking for written documentation as to the purpose...
Thanks again.

Please keep us in the loop and informed. Good luck, Tom