How much does a plumber generally charge..?

This is going to cost a lot more than you think.

Replacing a bathtub usually involves a lot more than just buying a new tub. It can be necessary to move and/or replace the plumbing pipes to fit the new tub; repair carpentry, drywall and tile; and cut a hole in a wall to get the old tub out and the new one in. It's less expensive to refinish the bathtub ($300 -$600) or install a bathtub liner ($500 -$4,000), but a replacement can mean you get precisely the tub you want.

Typical costs:

A standard new bathtub starts around $200 -$600, but can be $800 -$3,000 or more, depending on size and features such as water jets. Fiberglass and steel are less expensive but not as durable as cast iron, which keeps the heat in better.

Total cost for removing the old tub and installing a new one can run $1,500 -$5,000 or more but averages $2,500 -$3,500 depending on the ease of access, local rates, the quality of the new fixtures, and the extent of the repairs/replacements for the walls, plumbing and flooring.

What should be included:

A typical bathtub replacement project can take several days to a week or more, depending on what's involved. Often a one-piece tub won't fit into an existing home, so many manufacturers make sectional tub surrounds. Once installed, it can be hard to tell a sectional surround from a one-piece unit. But it's still important to make sure the replacement tub you select will fit through the doorway.

Replacing a bathtub can be somewhat complex for a beginning do-it-yourselfer, requiring some plumbing experience and basic carpentry tools. It can also call for soldering skills if you're working with copper piping. Stretcher.com describes how to cut up the old bathtub to make it easier to carry it away and the Family Handyman magazine provides how-to instructions for installing a new acrylic tub and surround. However, AskTheBuilder.com recommends hiring a pro to be sure the plumbing work meets the building codes.

Laws vary by location, so be sure to check with your local planning department to see what codes govern your bathtub replacement project and if you need a building permit.

Additional costs:

If the replacement tub is larger and heavier than the old bathtub, you might also need to install larger copper water pipes (anywhere from $1.30 -$10 a foot) and a bigger-capacity hot water heater ($150 -$3,500), and to reinforce the floor joists ($100 -$300 per joist).

Discounts:

Replacing a bathtub can be less expensive if you're also doing other remodeling projects that involve opening up the walls, making it easier to get the old tub out and the new tub in. And some plumbers may agree to have you do some of the basic demolition or other back-breaking work yourself, to cut the total cost.

Shopping for replacing a bathtub:

Major bathtub manufacturers include American Standard and Kohler.

Get several estimates, making sure all services, charges and fees are included in each quote. Request and check references, and be sure they're properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state. See if there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

You might hire a local handyman to do a fairly straight-forward tub replacement without a lot of repairs or changes to plumbing, floors and walls.

For more extensive projects, referrals are available from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

I am a landlord. I don't live in your state so I can't say what the laws are where you live but as a landlord I can tell you that I would never charge a tenant for something like what you are describing in an apartment building. Paper towels in the main sewer line could have come from any apartment not just yours. I would however talk to ALL my tenants and ask them not to flush paper towels down the toilet. As far as 3 months rent up front and a security deposit, you agreed to pay it so he can do it. Make sure you pay your rent by check and keep your canceled check as proof of payment. I don't know what SCEP & RO fees are so I can't help you there. This next part I explain to the tenant before they sign the lease. I never tolerate a late payment for any reason unless I am notified in advance and I will only let that happen one time. If I do not have the rent on the 1st of the month a 3 day notice goes on the door on the 2nd of the month. (In my state before you can evict you must put a notice on the door saying pay or move out within 3 days) If they don't pay the rent in 3 days plus the $25 a day late fee I start the eviction proceedings at the courthouse on the 5th. After I start the eviction proceedings the tenant can still stay if the rent plus late fees plus court costs is paid. Now as to your problem landlord you need to ask yourself if you have had this kind of problem with other landlords. If this has happened to you several times the problem is most likely with you and not the landlord. If this is the first time it has happened then you may have a nut-job for a landlord and I reccomend moving when your lease is up.

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