The building in this example

Building
A four-story condo building near the lake, built in the 2010s.
Units involved
Two neighboring second-floor units and the corridor between them.
Shared elements
A plumbing chase in the corridor wall, owned by the association.
First reports
One resident smelled it in the entry closet; the other in the kitchen.

Working it out

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

Illustrative example, not a real job or household. Two residents email the management company on the same day about a decay smell. One unit's entry closet and the other's kitchen both back onto a corridor wall that contains a plumbing chase.

  1. The manager compares the two reports and notices both point to the same corridor wall.
  2. The association's pest provider inspects the chase through an access panel on the corridor side.
  3. A dead rat is found in the chase near a gap around a drain pipe, along with droppings.
  4. The provider removes it, cleans and treats the chase, and seals the gap at the pipe.
  5. The manager emails both residents a short summary with photos.

Because the reports were specific and the chase was a common element, the association handled access and cost without anyone opening a unit wall.

What made it quick

Each resident described exactly where the smell was strongest. Put together, the reports pointed to a shared wall, which the manager knew contained a chase. An access panel meant no drywall had to be cut.

Had the residents only said the hallway smells bad, the search would have taken much longer.

If this happens in your building

Common questions

Who pays when the carcass is in a chase?

Chases are usually common elements maintained by the association, but the governing documents decide.

Would opening a unit wall have helped?

It would have cost more and might have missed the chase entirely. Checking common access panels first is usually the better order.

What if the chase had no access panel?

The association would decide where to open the wall, usually on the corridor side, which is a common element, to avoid cutting into a unit.

General information for Sloan's Lake, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.