Just how clean does my apartment have to be for my landlord to repair the toilet?

Question

In the last year I've let my slob syndrome go out of control. I have two cats and can usually find a way to blame stacks of junk on them but just because they knocked it over doesn't mean they caused the mess.

My toilet BROKE about an hour ago and started spewing water from the BACK (the tank) of the toilet (not the bowl!). I couldn't get the d**n water off because someone had it cranked so hard UP. Anyway, I have a busted toilet and my apartment is a mess. It's even more of a mess because I've spent the last 25 minutes cleaning up the water that spewed (I caught the leak so no long term damage) and the junk from the room that scattered in the explosion.

Because I'm FREAKED and know it will take at least a week to clean this place, JUST how clean does my apartment have to be before I call this guy and either let him or a plumber in? No water is running = no damage but no toilet! Yikes :(

Answer 1

i dont think he cares how clean it is if your toilet situation could damage his other rooms cause he would want to get to it fast. i'd first take care of the disgusting things(rotten food, cat pee, i dont know what you have in there) first, then just straighten up a bit.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear that you have such a problem.

You should have the place straightened up enough so that there is no problem for anyone to walk from the apartment entrance all the way to your bathroom without haveing to step or jump over anything obstructing them, as well as clearing the entire toilet area all the way to the door.  If the landlord or plummer have to move things out of their way and there is lots of junk to be moved you will certainly hear about it.  If your apartment is really that messy your landlord can call the local health department on you to initiate your eviction if he/she feels you are a health risk to yourself and to others in the building.

My advice is to clear a path and  call your landlord to have this done immediately.  If the landlord shows issues with the messyness of your apartment make arrangements with him/her that they can come back in 1 week to see the difference after you have cleaned, or hired a crew of cleaners to do it for you.  It would be a good time to find you some storage space.

Answer 3

Just tell him you're going through all your old junk to get rid of it and this happened at the worst time ever but it doesn't usually look like that. Either that or Take EVERYTHING that's in the rooms he will see and move it to rooms he won't see. Trust me I've been there. Visit flylady.net for help after he comes to get your house in order, you'll be glad you did.

Answer 4

It doesn't have to be clean at all. On the other hand, if you have a not so nice or a concerned landlord, and your apartment is a fire hazard, they could report you which would require that a judge give you an alloted time frame to clean it up or be forcefully ejected.

Answer 5

This is just ONE of the MANY reasons why a home should be kept tidy but you all ready know that,don't you.The landlord is not going to like what he sees.If it is really bad he may not renew your lease when this one runs out.I would say stash all you can into the bedrooms or other rooms where you can close the door.Have the way from the door to the bathroom at least half way decent looking.I hope you have kept the cats litter box clean or he is really going to smell it.Better get off the computer and get to cleaning up.