[nostatic]

OK, I moved into this apt back in Feb. Since then I've had to call the management company 5 different times for plumbing problems (once the kitchen sink backed up, 4 times the shower/bathtup/toilet). The bathroom has been horrific, with raw sewage backing up in Nov, and now twice in Dec.

For the first two incidents they sent out their plumber and they snaked it. I later got a bill for $120 since they said plumbing to the main was my resonsibility. I ignored it. Then when the raw sewage backed up on a Saturday night in Nov. and I didn't get a call back from then within 24hours, I called a plumber and they came out and snaked it for $170. I then sent last month's rent check in minus the $170 along with a letter detailing the incidents and explaining why not only was I not paying the $120 bill, but was subtracting the $170.

So their plumber came out this past monday to "fix" it again. This time removing the toilet and running a bigger snake. The issue seems to be roots in the line. I had to leave for the airport but came back 2 days later and it was fixed (of course I had to again clean out the raw sewage residue in the shower). So this morning it backs up again. No raw sewage, but I hear the familiar "glug glug" of the toilet as it backs up.

So what can I do? I'm going to move out in Feb when my lease is up, but I'm thinking that providing functional plumbing is kinda part of the deal for the landlord. Write a letter and not pay any more rent until they fix it right? Call the health department? Get an attorney (I'm broke right now until the divorce settlement check comes through though)?