Building's Plumbing Issue Affecting Our Unit

[frusteratedcondoowner]

My question involves a condominium located in the State of: Illinois. We own a first floor unit in a building of 16. Since purchasing in 2001, we have continually had issues of sewage backing up into our unit's kitchen sink and flooding the kitchen. It typically affects all 4 first floor units - our unit being most frequently/severely affected. Numerous plumbers have stated it is a building issue having to do with improper plumbing during construction - the pipes in question are actually under someone else's unit all together. While the Association always pays to have it temporarily corrected, we have had sewage flooding in our kitchen too many times to count. It has ruined our hardwoods, there is mold growing, etc. How do we get the Association to pay for the damage to our individual unit?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You ask really nicely. Seriously, if they won't voluntarily perform the repair, you're going to need to talk to a real estate lawyer about possible legal action to compel a repair.

[SChinFChin]

My question involves a condominium located in the State of: Illinois. We own a first floor unit in a building of 16. Since purchasing in 2001, we have continually had issues of sewage backing up into our unit's kitchen sink and flooding the kitchen. It typically affects all 4 first floor units - our unit being most frequently/severely affected. Numerous plumbers have stated it is a building issue having to do with improper plumbing during construction - the pipes in question are actually under someone else's unit all together. While the Association always pays to have it temporarily corrected, we have had sewage flooding in our kitchen too many times to count. It has ruined our hardwoods, there is mold growing, etc. How do we get the Association to pay for the damage to our individual unit?

I have read of some condo units built in some low lying areas in my county where sewage backs up into the basement drains, constantly flooding the lower floors with smelly sewage waste, especially after heavy rains.

The problem apparently was caused by too much development, where condo units were quickly built, addtional sewage capacity promised was never added as it needs bond approval that never got approved.

I lived in a newly constructed condo unit, and we head leaks that the HOA kept fxing to no end. In these cases, it pays to hire an engineer to pinpoint the exact problem.

Based on what you said, it's either a combination of the 1st floor drains built too low in relation to the sewage system, or the sewage capacity in the area is too small, needing more. But unless you have an engineer looking into it, write a report, it's just a bunch of angry people yelling that the HOA or plumbers are useless.

In my county, where homeowners complained about waste backup, they finally got the attention of the local political establishment, county engineers looked into it, and finally this year, they started work on expanding the sewage system.

Unfortunately, you may have to have the analysis done.