Is this normal?

[ODogg]

Hey guys, I live in a rental and every time it rains I get this:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FQNzMKVQBPw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've told the landlord about it and they said it's not that big of a deal. It seems to me it is though as my mom had a similar situation and her basement ended up caving in and the structure had massive water damage.

It's not my property so I don't care all too much (I plan to move in the next year) but I'm just wondering if maybe I'm wrong here and this is "normal"??

Thoughts?

[Burns11]

Re: Is this normal?

Not normal, gutters are there for a reason and I wouldn't ignore it on my house.

[snepp]

Re: Is this normal?

No, allowing the water to pool around the foundation is certainly not normal.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Is this normal?

Yeah you need a couple of gutters up in the front there and add some down spout extenders for it can flow away from your house. Having water land that close to the house will erode away the foundation of that house. Not only will the basement start flooding, but over time, the house will begin to lean towards the area the water is coming in.

I have 4 feet long down spout extenders on all my gutters. And I have a 25 foot hose on one of my sump pumps and 75 feet pipe attached to the second sump pump. Got to keep water from draining near your house at all costs.

[ODogg]

Re: Is this normal?

Thank you guys for validating what I thought was the case. This rental management company are total idiots and they simply choose to ignore what they can. I feel bad (somewhat) for the owners who are an older couple who plan to live off of their rentals in their retirement because I know they would be aghast if they knew this type of a problem was being ignored. I mean this will be serious money to fix at some point.

I've asked them to fix it about 3 or 4 times and they just say sometimes it rains hard and that's how it is supposed to be and normally, unless it rains alot, it doesn't do that. However it DOES do that most every time it rains and I've told them that. Oh well...

[p_rushing]

Re: Is this normal?

That's how the management companies make money. If you have the owners contact info, you may want to contact them and let them know. A lot of those companies want to do as little as possible because if it isn't broken now, it doesn't have to be fixed and they don't have to spend money.

[rsnomar05]

Re: Is this normal?

That's how the management companies make money. If you have the owners contact info, you may want to contact them and let them know. A lot of those companies want to do as little as possible because if it isn't broken now, it doesn't have to be fixed and they don't have to spend money.

It actually does have to be fixed, as gutters and downspouts are a housing code requirement in all 50 states.

In many states, you are entitled to withhold rent until the violation has been cured, but I checked the Ohio Landlord/Tenant law, and this remedy is not available.

Instead, you have to give written notice to the landlord of the violation. If they don't remedy it within 30 days (or a time reasonable to complete the repairs), you can either:

1. Terminate the rental agreement.
2. Pay your rent to a Municipal County Court Clerk (instead of your landlord). The landlord can only receive that rent when they have remedied the violation.
3. Apply for a court order directing the landlord to remedy the violation. You can also apply for your rent to be lowered until the violation is cured.

So if I were you, I would send written notice to your landlord. The threat of not receiving your rent until they fix the problem might spur them to take action and remedy the situation.

[gerg1234]

Re: Is this normal?

Looks like the gutters need cleaned. The downspouts are blocked/clogged and the gutters fill and spill over.

[ODogg]

Re: Is this normal?

Thanks guys, I've given this video to my neighbor (who is the one who lives by the part that leaks) and told her to do with it what she will. I'm on a month to month lease and at one point the landlord asked me to leave for complaining about stuff like this too much so I don't plan on following up on it with them anymore, lest they give me the boot but I am glad to see I'm not just "whining about nothing" which is what they seemed to make me think I was doing when I reported it.

Oh and just FYI, I have reported it three times and the last time they said they had the gutters cleaned and it was "fixed". Doesn't look fixed in the least to me.

And also, just one other FYI, as soon as I get my next job (I'm between contracts right now) we are moving out of this place and into a house and it can be someone elses problem!!

[55]

Re: Is this normal?

Just call the building inspector in your county.