Toledo man claims out-of-state landlord won’t fix raw sewage backup in basement

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - A Toledo man said his out-of-state landlord is neglecting a raw sewage problem that is flooding his basement.

It’s an issue he didn’t think he would have to deal with after living there just a few weeks.

Michael Huerta and his family live near Toledo’s Lagrange neighborhood.

“So far we’ve had to stop it from here and push it that way and suck it up with the shop vac and run it to the street,” Huerta said.

The family is now dealing with sewage backing up in his basement.

“Never ever informed us that this could possibly even happen whatsoever,” Huerta said. “If anybody knew that this would be happening in their basement why would you want to live here.”

According to Huerta, the issues didn’t start to pop up until the rainfall started.

Additionally, the landlord who lives out of state is not sending the right people to fix the problem.

“I’m constantly smelling this all day every day since I’ve lived here and having nothing but headaches,” he said.

Huerta once had heart surgery and worries about his health. He lives with his wife and two sons and said they’re doing all they can to address the sewage backup.

“So we’re shop-vacuuming up as much as we can try to run it up these stairs squeegeeing it this way as much as we can with just us me and my wife and that’s it,” Huerta said.

Exposure to raw sewage can cause a range of health issues, from diarrhea and nausea to skin infections and respiratory issues.

13 Action News reached out to the landlord of the property by phone Thursday afternoon.

The landlord said the tenants are their number one priority and will again try to send his maintenance man to the home Friday to fix the issues.

Meanwhile, if you are someone having issues with landlords failing to make repairs there are ways to address it including having a rent escrow.

Toledo Housing Court details the process here.

Latest Local News | First Alert Weather | Crime | National | 13abc Originals