Landlord wont fix bad drainage in rainy weather but wants to install extra phone jacks & cable connections.?

Question

This man, GRRR! When it rains our septic tank fills with water & we can't flush our toilets. When it rains here it rains for about 3 days at the time. so 2-3 days of filth sits in the toilets until they can be flushed! When they built this house (its a new construct) they didn't put any phone jacks or cable connections in the house. He just happened to be driving by when the "phone guy" was here and so he stopped & proceeded to tell the guy what HE wanted installed. The "phone guy" said "Did they order that because its not on my work order here." I shook my head & started to say I couldn't afford those installations, but my landlord talked over me and said "No its fine, don't worry about it, I'll work something out with them, You see, I AM the owner." The guy told him "Well they would have to call the company office & order the installations because it will go on their (my) bill. The landlord pulled the guy outside and tried to tell him to do it anyway & he would pay him later, when that didn't work he came back to me & TOLD me to order the installations & that he'd get back with me on the cost. I held up a money order & said "Well they want me to pay them today & this is all I have so..." My landlord gave me this look right & said "Just order it & I'll write them a check for the difference." Then he left feeling like he had laid the law down. I went up to the phone guy & asked him if I called the company & ordered the installations that my landlord wanted would he even have time to do them today or would he have to come back. He told me that he already told my landlord that he wouldn't be able to do it today because work orders are held for 24 hours for verification purposes. Then the phone guy looks around & says no offense but, why does he want ya'll to have cable in every bedroom & the living room? My response was "Hell if I know. We don't even own a TV!" Any constructive suggestions would be greatly appreciated. How do I explain to a 49 yr old, egomaniac that my have-to's need to be met before his want-to's are?

Update:

When I am the owner & not the renter... This is a random statement that doesn't help me. I am well aware of who owns the building. But he does NOT have the authority to demand that I place an order in my name for cable connections we don't want or need with a promise that he will "get it back to me". The question was: How do I explain that basic necessities are more important than superfluous entertainment equipment installations? Whether or not he is a property owner or not is moot.

Update 2:

I found out later that the septic tanks are 35 years old and the this house was built over an old home. I did not order the installations like he wanted. He told me that having the septic sumped out would be too expensive, but wanted me to front the cash to pay for the installations. The question is how to deal with his topsy turvy priorities.

Meghan · Accepted Answer

Write your landlord a letter stating the problem with the septic system.  This is a health hazard and needs to be fixed immediately.  Tell him you have chosen to work this out with him, but he has refused to fulfill his legal obligations.  Give him a deadline (typically 30 days).  From that point, you are reserving two options.  1) Have the repairs completed and taking the money off the rent you owe him.  or 2) Informing the local sanitation commission/ housing commision of the issue and letting them handling the issue from that point forward.

Make sure and send the letter return reciept requested through certified mail.

Landlord · Answer

There is something seriously wrong with the septic tank.  No new construction one would have problems like this.   The leeching field alone is huge.   It should be under warrenty, the owner needs to get this fixed.   Septic systems are designed in such a way that it should not be possible for rain to effect them.

It is also weird that a new construct did not have cable and a telephone installed with the rest of the wiring, but the landlord can install as he sees fit.   It is still law that at least one landlord phone line be installed (not working, just there).

If you paid his bills include the receipt with your rent and subtract the amount.   You should not have paid for anything he ordered.

Wounded Duck · Answer

When YOU are the OWNER not the renter! It is HIS house, not yours. You can file a complaint with the local housing authority about the non functioning plumbing and it will be addressed.

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Landlord wont fix bad drainage in rainy weather but wants to install extra phone jacks & cable connections.?

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