So my wife and I are currently renting a duplex in Atlanta. We have lived here for the past ~18 months or so but are moving out at the end of May. We were the first people to live on our side of the duplex since the owner completely renovated it. There are a couple of things that you can tell were done on the cheap but nothing disastrous really. Except for one.

We moved in during the winter and didn't notice this problem until it heated up in the spring but at that time a horrible smell started coming from my bathroom. Very much like a sewer smell. The landlord sends over his "handyman" to fix it who rigs some sort of vent out the side of the house. It took care of the smell for the most part, although not 100%. Unfortunately, it also caused a leak in our house where everytime it rained we had a faucet in the middle of our ceiling. After trying to fix that multiple times a roofer guy just cut off the vent and sealed up the siding. At this point it had started to cool down again and we didn't notice a huge increase in the smell.

About two weeks ago the smell came back stronger then ever (heating up again LDO). Called the landlord, told him we were moving (for mostly unrelated reasons), but that this needed to be fixed before someone else moved in.

Plumber (not the handyman) comes over today and is completely in disbelief about the plumbing setup here. My shower has no "trap" and we have been subjected to sewer gas/methane for the past 18 months. Plumber tells me plumbing does not meet code and that the gas is dangerous. He suggested I get a rubber stopper to put over the shower drain until this gets fixed, purely for health reasons.

I am not sick nor have I been, although I do get relatively frequent headaches which I have assumed have been coming from sitting in front of the computer for too long. I work from home and my office is next door to the bathroom so I have been in the house for ~20 hours a day for 18 months.

What's my play here?

Cliffs:

Duplex owner landlord renovates on the cheap, plumbing against code, exposing my wife and I to methane for the past ~18 months. We are moving out in a month.

Move out. If your nitty go see a doctor and see if there is any reason to be concerned, probably not or you'd already be sick. Doubtful you see enough money to make it worth anyone's while except for the lawyers.

Shake off your outrage and just move out as scheduled, use the plug if you need to. Do a walkthrough and make sure you get your full damage deposit back. During the walkthrough, I would make it a point to stop in the bathroom and plainly say to the landlord: "And here is where the shower drain is violating the building code. But I didn't cause this damage, or any other kind of damage to the unit, and I'm expecting to get my full deposit back, so I don't really see any need to make a fuss about it."

Alternatively, report him.

If you and your wife were trying to have kids during this time you have a substantial lawsuit on your hands. Otherwise its all dependant on what the doctor says.

Yeah, I am not really worried about being sick. Other then the headaches we are both fine.

I am pretty sure we are getting our full deposit back. He was over last week and mentioned that the place looked good.

He knows about the issue. The plumber called him after he left and then my landlord just called me to ask when I wanted it fixed. He was definitely all "buddy,buddy" when he called though so he knows he is in a bad spot.

Oh, we tried, if you know what I mean.

Actually, we weren't trying so nothing there.

To be honest, I am not a vindictive person in general. I don't want to be a dick and ruin our landlords live (not that that is even realistic). It was just negligent on his part and subjected us to some amount of risk. And for that I am pissed (and I am sure the wife is going to be even more upset).

Methane is bad for you. Period. And with a gas stove and gas heating and air there is some risk I would think. Maybe I am overstating it, I don't really know.

I dont know how bad methane is for you but Id just make sure to see a doctor. Also Id want to make sure that the landlord fixes the plumbing so someone else doesnt have to live with that same ****ty situation. I could see freinds of mine trying to sue the landlords insurance company or however you'd have to go about it in a renter/rentee situation but thats not really my style unless there is a good reason.

Would be interesting to hear what others that have experience/knowledge about this kinda situation have to say about it.

ok I'm a doctor and methane is bad for you but mainly in the sense that it's not oxygen. basically you have been living in a low oxygen area for 18 months which explains the headaches.

if the methane level was higher or you had some underlying lung issues like asthma or emphysema you could possibly have died. there are many instances of people suffocating and dying from exposure to methane in areas like pig farms and stuff where there are very high levels.

I'm not sure what you could get if you got the guy in small claims court, anything you spent in doctors bills and stuff or possibly a month or two rent maaaybe. but key is he probably is scared to go to court though so you should use this.

me I would play hardball with the guy and ream his ear out for making you inhale turds for a year and a half. I'd have the plumber out there to fix it pronto and tell him you're not paying the last month's rent and you better get the security deposit back or you'll see him in court.

also bang his wife imo

later
illmatic