Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MURRAY — A renter is having a big problem after sewage started flowing into her Murray apartment. She's frustrated with the management, saying she doesn’t think they’re doing enough.
Kelli Wright, who spoke exclusively with KSL TV, said the sewer backed up on Wednesday inside her unit at the Clover Creek Apartments at 530 Murray Blvd.
"I walked in my house and I was like, 'Man, something smells really awful,'" said Wright.
Wright came home that evening to find sewer water seeping from under the toilet. The apartment complex called a plumber, but the water didn’t stop.
"I guess there was a hiccup and it just started flowing everywhere," Wright said. "Like, little things of poop were floating all over my linoleum. The sewer water went through the wall, into my daughter's room."
Wright told KSL TV sewage also flowed into her bedroom, into her living room and beyond.
"There was poop all over the door frames, all over the top of the toilet," she said.
Wright was left to clean up the mess even though she just had surgery.
"I had to squat and was in the corner with a Q-tip, trying to get all of the feces," she said.
Five days later, the carpets have been cleaned but the smell remains. Wright said it's beginning to affect her daughter's health.
"She's been really sick. It's down in her chest, in her throat," Wright said. "She's had multiple anxiety attacks."
Wright is frustrated Clover Creek management hasn’t done enough to help. She would like them to let her move into a new apartment or pay for a hotel while her carpet is replaced.
The laws in Utah are pretty one-sided in favor of landlords. Tenants complain about something, and the consequence of complaining might result in an eviction.
–Attorney Martin Blaustein, Utah Legal Services
KSL TV talked to management, who said they plan to replace the carpet, but they couldn’t say when.
Utah Legal Services attorney Martin Blaustein said under the Utah Fit Premises Act, Wright could try fixing the apartment herself and deducting the repairs from her rent, but that could backfire and she could be sued by the apartment owners, leaving her with very few options.
"There aren't a lot of rights for tenants," said Blaustein. "The laws in Utah are pretty one-sided in favor of landlords. Tenants complain about something, and the consequence of complaining might result in an eviction."
Any way you look at it, the whole thing really stinks.
"I feel like we should be more than just a payment," said Wright. "I feel like our needs and our concerns should be met."
Besides the management, Wright said she’s called the health department, the city, the housing authority and public works. She hopes the apartment owner will get this resolved before she has to find a new place to live.
