Landlord won't fix raw sewage in yard for two years. Richmond, (VA)
My landlord is a property management company, whose parent company is a multimillion international business. The property is sub managed by a realtor company. The house was rehabbed before the current owner purchased it, probably with cash and without inspection.
When we moved in I informed them that the septic system is not working properly. When, if and how the realtor company informed the owner I do not know. It took a year of complaints before they believed me. Somehow the toilets flush, but there is a broken sewage pipe and it all spills into the yard. There is a large permanent lagoon there now with 5 foot tall grass.
. I always inform the property management company realtor immediately whenever I discover a problem with the house, which have been many times. I think they are exasperated with me. The last time I called to notify that some rooms were not wired with a ground, which can cause a fire, and asked for someone to check it out, the realtor called and said "We don't want to loose you, but let us know if you want us to give you 30 days notice".
I perceived that as a veiled threat of eviction for reporting issues.
I would have had the legal right to end the lease the day after I signed it, but I can't afford to live anywhere else. I don't want to move as last time I did it cost me 5k, and my family is connected here with church and school. I pay my rent early every month, never late or missed. For some reason the rent is half the market rate, maybe as a tax deduction on their portfolio, so moving would automatically double my rent.
I've been willing to wait and be patient, living in a home that is not legally habitable, but I'm afraid they are going to evict me for being a good tenant in a crappy house.
Why won't this multimillion dollar company do the right thing?