Homeowner Faces $5,000 Plumbing Damage From Housekeeper's Kitty Litter Mistake

"When I came back, my bedroom and bathroom were flooded with dirty toilet water."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• January 5, 2024

Life often presents us with unforeseen challenges that test our judgment and patience. A common issue that many face is managing the consequences of someone else's actions, especially when it leads to significant inconvenience and financial burden.

Such is the story of a Reddit user who encountered an unexpected problem with their trusted housekeeper. For two months, everything had seemed perfect.

The housekeeper was reliable, efficient, and seemingly understood her responsibilities well. However, a simple vacation revealed a grave oversight.

Entrusted with the care of a cat, the housekeeper made a decision that led to an unforeseen disaster. Upon returning from vacation, the homeowner was shocked to find their bedroom and bathroom flooded with dirty toilet water.

The culprit? The housekeeper had been flushing kitty litter down the toilet, causing a severe blockage and subsequent flooding.

The aftermath was daunting. The homeowner faced a staggering $5,000 bill for plumbing repairs, not to mention the potential for mold and damage to personal belongings.

Understandably, they pondered the possibility of suing the housekeeper for property damage. The negligence seemed clear: instead of disposing of the cat litter properly, she had opted for an easier but damaging solution.

The situation was further complicated by the housekeeper's circumstances - she was undergoing a divorce and might not have the financial means to cover the damages.

OP hired a housekeeper and left her to care for his cat during his vacation, but when OP returned he found that his bedroom and bathroom were flooded with dirty toilet water.

OP considering suing for property damage.

OP is asking if it's reasonable to consider legal action when someone dumps a litter box into their toilet instead of properly disposing of cat poop.

OP doesn't have home insurance, he is a renter.

OP is not in the wrong for wanting it, but expecting his housekeeper to give him $5k if he wins is unrealistic.

OP has the option to try settling the matter out of court initially, which is a logical first step.

Both parties are at fault; one for obvious reasons, and the other for not having renter's insurance and lacking self-protection skills in case of a fire.

To succeed in his lawsuit, OP must demonstrate negligence or willful ignorance, which can be challenging.

OP is at fault for not giving instructions to the person he trusted to care for his cat.

It's important not to assume that someone knows what to do and to provide clear instructions if necessary.

Expecting his housekeeper, who is going through a divorce, to have $5k for this is unreasonable.

Instead of immediately considering legal action, it's reasonable for OP to first inform her about the repair costs.

The first thing OP should do is talk to the housekeeper and explain how much it will cost to fix everything. It's also important to remember that both OP and the housekeeper share some responsibility for what happened.

OP could have given clearer instructions about taking care of the cat, and the housekeeper should have known not to flush cat litter down the toilet. To win a lawsuit, OP has to prove that the housekeeper was careless or didn't pay attention, which can be hard to do.

So, it's a good idea for OP to try talking to the housekeeper first and finding a fair solution that works for both of them.

Damjan