Korean Job Discussion Forums

falldownstumble · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul

My toilet is not working properly. I told my landlord, and she said she'd call a plumber, but that I have to pay because it's my responsibility.

Of course this notion goes against everything I believe to be true about renting an apartment: you're paying for facilities that work, including a toilet that flushes normal things down it. Doesn't work, landlord pays to fix it. RIGHT?

Seoul Global Center suggested that the CAUSE of the toilet not working has to be checked and determined to be my fault or not before the landlord would pay for it, but she seemed uncertain. Other landlord repair inquiries on Dave's seem to suggest that landlord should pay for most repairs in general.

Has anybody had an experience with a toilet not working and got (or not got) their landlord to pay for repair? If I didn't flush anything crazy, should it be her responsibility to repair it?

Thanks for your input.

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject:

What is the toilet doing?

falldownstumble · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul

Not flushing...

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:09 pm Post subject:

Not flushing because it feels like the chain inside the tank is broken? That's a simple fix.

Stan Rogers · Joined: 20 Aug 2010

Does it gurgle?

falldownstumble · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul

These are interesting questions, and I appreciate them and will certainly look into the logistics of repairing the toilet simply on my own. Thanks!

If anyone could also offer some insight into the who-should-pay query, I would appreciate that as well.

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject:

Do you really want to go through all of this legal mumbo-jumbo just to clip a chain on safety pin? Very Happy

falldownstumble · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul

Well if you must know, the toilet is severely clogged and I have tried every Googleable solution to fix the clog. It's not one of the problems with the tank. Thanks though.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

falldownstumble · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: Seoul

Like if I wanted to deal with this kind of sh*t I would buy a house, right?

Thanks for your story!

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject:

Look, here's what you do. Go out and get some rubber gloves. Put the glove on and stick your hand way up the pipe. You have to clear the poop or more likely all the paper you used out of the entrance hole to the drainage pipe. It's not hard. You would normally use a snake, but you're in Korea and finding one is not easy. Just do what I say, then take a shower after you unclog the pipe. It's so easy.

archaeologist5 · Joined: 25 Dec 2013

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

The Seoul Global Center got it right: it depends.

Toilet & sink problems are generally on the tenant. If the cause lies with the building's plumbing infrastructure the owner pays, but a clog is likely your fault & therefore your responsibility.

[Likewise frozen pipe damage falls on the tenant -- be careful, folks, if you take a trip this winter.]

Electrical problems follow the same pattern. Tenants are responsible for fixing or replacing light fixtures, switches, etc, but the landlord pays for deeper wiring malfunctions.

Boiler repairs are always on the owner's dime.

This is based on personal experience in numerous rental units here. No idea if or where its written down but these are the conventions Korean tenants abide by too.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

I moved into an apartment once, and the faucet and showerhead were broken. I had the landlord fix them, as it was clear that I hadn't broken them.

You clogged a toilet. You're responsible. Just pay for it. It's not as expensive as back home, anyway, and the plumber will be available the same day.

optik404 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

You really expect the landlord to come and fix a clogged toilet for you?