What started as a minor basement flood has spiraled into a costly crisis for Scarborough homeowner Linda Mangalathu. After noticing water backing up through a shower drain on April 29, the longtime resident now faces a $70,000 bill, a torn-up front yard, and a structurally unsafe house — all without a confirmed cause of the leak.
Despite initial hopes that a plumber could solve the issue for $300, Mangalathu’s ordeal deepened when it was discovered the home’s sewer lines had collapsed. Attempts to fix the problem led to extensive excavation, with a two-and-a-half-metre pit dug in her front yard. Yet, weeks later, the water continues to flood the basement, and the root cause remains uncertain.
Contractor Benjamin Sarault suspects the broken storm pipe may be redirecting water back toward the foundation, but he can’t proceed until the City of Toronto fixes its section of the line. The city, now investigating, confirmed the water isn’t coming from its supply pipe and has begun repairs to the sewer system.
On Wednesday, a city inspector declared Mangalathu’s home structurally unsafe due to the excavation, adding to her burden with a demand for a structural engineering report within 24 hours. With only $15,000 covered by insurance, Mangalathu predicts her costs could surpass $70,000.
Desperate and considering selling the home, Mangalathu says she feels abandoned. “Maybe someone else will be able to fix it,” she says. “Come buy my house.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
