Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Encompass Property Group has just under one month to fix mold and plumbing issues in a south Columbia rental home after multiple code violations were found in a city inspection.
Inspectors with City of Columbia Housing and Neighborhood Services were sent to 3507 Longfords Mill Dr. after then-tenant Terry Pippenger filed a complaint. Pippenger said the complaint came after months of unanswered requests for maintenance to the property group. Code violations were found in the plumbing system. Specifically, an active leak was found coming from the dishwasher because of an issue with the connection line between the dishwasher and food disposal.
A leak was also found coming from the sewer stack in the ceiling directly above the master bathroom. This lead to another code violation due to the leak breaking down the drywall and causing a mold infiltration.
Pippenger said he moved into the rental at the end of April on a tight turnaround, but claims Encompass ensured the necessary repairs would be made.
On May 3, roughly a week after moving in, Pippenger provided a detailed report of the unresolved damage to property management. Along with the moldy leak and plumbing issues, the report detailed no turnover process between him and the previous tenants, stains on the floor, poor paint work and multiple instances of deferred maintenance.
3507 Longford’s Mill 2Download
“It was supposed to have a professional cleaning done, all the carpet was supposed to be removed, the walls were supposed to be painted,” Pippenger said.
Pippenger said Encompass also agreed to fix the moldy leak above the bath and the plumbing issues in the kitchen, found by inspectors in September, before he first moved in.
“We never once were able to use the dishwasher the entire time and anytime that we opened it up the the stench of it was just so foul that we basically just kind of gave up on ever trying to use it,” Pippenger said.
On July 6, Pippenger reached out to management and asked again for them to come and assess the damage he reported. On July 12, he raised his concerns again and even offered to make the repairs himself.
“If they’re willing to make me deal with something like this when I’m willing to pay in $2,100, I’d be curious to know what their other properties look like and how many other people they are doing it to,” Pippenger said.
On Sept. 1, Pippenger said he tried to bring his concerns in person to the Encompass office.
Longford’s Mill Dr. 3507 – Notice of ViolationDownload
“Instead of just agreeing to come out and do an inspection, he instead chased me and my girlfriend out of his office screaming at me saying that he would evict me,” Pippenger said.
The most-recent inspection was Sept. 8 and Pippenger moved out of the home that same day after a city inspector’s findings supported his months-long pleas.
Encompass has until Oct. 13 to make needed repairs. The city has requested the property group to repair all leaks or defects found in the dishwasher system and replace and water damaged material.
The September report says the sewer stack pipe also has to be repaired or replaced to stop the ongoing leak. All impacted drywall in the bathroom ceiling needs to be removed and restored, per the city’s request.
If the corrective actions are not taken by the deadline, Housing and Neighborhood services say the property management and the owner could face municipal prosecution, per the city’s response.
ABC 17 News reached out to Encompass, but has not heard back.
Dish washer leak 3507 LMDownload
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