My landlord has promised to fix the sewer pipes to our house. He has dug up the sewer line and has taken the line out, so the waste from the house and the toilets are going into a hole in the back yard and you can see the waste and toilet paper. Is this a health concern that I should be worried about with having animals and children playing in the backyard? How can I report my landlord with out any retaliation from my landlord?

Are you kidding me ? It is a MAJOR health issue. Your house is now considered inhabitable. You should call Heath Department immediately. Also, call Building Department and have City Inspector to come over to inspect what's going on. Be ready he will Red Tag the house the minute he sees what's going on. If I were you I would move out to a hotel until the sewer service is restored. Of course, Owner pays for the hotel. Please, don't put it off. Act promptly. Back to you. Milo

Milo's 100% bang on. Your landlord left you with a open cesspool in your back yard and he will not only be red tagged but also fined for installing, and then leaving, a major health hazard. You can not continue to live in this place. If the landlord won't foot the bill to relocate you take him to court. Please keep me in the loop and let me know the outcome. Good luck, tom

How long has it been like this? As soon as the old line was removed, a new one should have been installed in the same day, or at the very least the next day (unforseen things do come into play here). It it has been this way for more than two days, time to make some calls. I agree with the above experts. Also, the landlord should have moved you into a motel or somewhere and shut the water off to the home once he knew the job would not be completed the day he started it. If you are worried about him taking it out on you, just put in an anonymous call to the health department and they will take it from there.

We are in the process of packing we know we can't stay here, we have found a new house. I am calling the health department and the code enforcement I am in the process that when we move that the landlord will be paying for everything. I refuse to pay another months rent here. Thank you for information, it has been very helpful. I appreciate the responses.

And we wish you and your family the very best of luck. If it were me I'd be seeing a lawyer. Simply getting moving expenses shouldn't be enough to compensate you for what the landlord put you through. Please let us know how this plays out. Good luck, Tom