Platte County woman concerned with response after water damage in her home

A Platte City woman needs help after a portion of her townhome flooded this week.Crystal Knight reached out to KMBC 9 Investigates after struggling to get answers from representatives with her property management company, Rowan Property Management, about who’s insurance company is ultimately responsible to pay for repairs.Property manager, Jerry Rowan, told KMBC the company is committed to properly resolving the situation.But Knight says Rowan’s company has been slow to offer any credits for rent and utilities this week especially with dehumidifying fans and heaters constantly running in her home.Knight says her apartment is unlivable, especially with the constant noise of fans running and drywall and flooring gone.WATER DAMAGE STARTED IN BATHROOM It all started Monday, when Knight said she got from her property manager about a water damage originating in her bathroom after a maintenance worker did work in the bathroom.After the worker left, Knight says the waterline to the toilet bowl broke and ran water for several hours into three levels of her home while she was at work.Crews hired by the property management company, that evening, brought out fans and eventually ripped out drywall and flooring.But Knight has concerns with how Rowan Property Management representatives handled the situation from there.“I reached out because I’ve been getting the runaround for property management,” she said.Knight says a property manager with Rowan Property Management told her she needs to make a claim through her renter’s insurance. Knight says she shouldn’t have to take those steps, especially if she is not at fault.“I don’t know if you guys can help reach out and contact them to get the ball rolling,” she said. “Maybe it’ll light a fire to get things going.”RESPONSE FROM PROPERTY MANAGERKMBC 9 Investigates, on Friday, called and emailed Rowan Property Management.Founding partner Jerry Rowan emailed back.Rowan, said in a statement:“We have taken all steps to mitigate the damage to the property and continue to work to do so. We are committed to working with Ms Knight to ensure she is taken care of and expect / hope for her to work with us as well. None of our actions have shown to be anything otherwise.” Rowan also said in an email string with KMBC what happened is not a case of negligence, just a “freak occurrence.”Rowan said a plumbing supply line to a toilet split open. KMBC 9 Investigates asked if the supply line was a brand-new part the maintenance worker installed that immediately split open or if it was already on the toilet?“This did not happen immediately after maintenance work was done as suggested,” he said. “Did it happen shortly after that, sure, but not immediately,” he said.In an email string with KMBC he also said:“Do we assign fault to the manufacturer of the plumbing materials? Seems silly in my opinion. Did we blame mother nature when pipes froze during the horrible cold spell we had in January? I sure did, but not sure where to send that complaint or invoices. We don’t believe anyone to be at fault for this. This is not a case of negligence, this is what I will continue to refer to as a freak occurrence. A plumbing supply line to a toilet split open. There is nobody at fault here, certainly not Ms Knight.” But, in the email, Rowan also said the unit, by definition, is habitable, since all exterior doors are secure, there is heating/cooling, power, a functioning kitchen, and functional plumbing for bathing and using the restroom. “If she believes the unit is not livable, we asked her to check with her insurance company to see if her policy has accommodations reimbursement as part of it,” he said.KMBC asked why she should have to do that.Rowan eventually invited KMBC for an interview Friday.But, when KMBC showed up to his office he referred KMBC to his attorney.KMBC called and emailed Rowan’s attorney Friday afternoon but did not immediately hear back.Knight, meanwhile, says she shouldn’t have to go through so much, especially, if she’s not at fault. She said she wants Rowan Property Management to take accountability. She wants them to make a claim with its insurance company, discount her rent, and help her with utilities from fans running constantly.“And just make it right,” she said.If you have a tip about this situation or any other landlord/tenant issue, email [email protected]

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