Very specific tree saving measures must be done to make sure root zones don't get compacted by equipment. 

We certainly will be doing a root-cause analysis of this situation to learn and grow moving forward.  

We snaked it, put tree root killer down the drain and I haven't heard anything about it since Feb.Whew!!!

I'd charge a holding deposit and collect it so that if they back out you have something for your lost time.I give my applicants less consideration if they are moving from out of the area since they are less likely to stay long if they don't have roots, but I have found that in my area and probably isn't prevalent.  

Ferreting out the person behind something like that is John's job, but even most shysters won't put in the time / effort it takes to pierce multiple corporate veils, find the trust at the root of the structure, then make the paper chase to find the protected (non-public) information which would lead to a person who may or may not be in control of the entities and their activities.

Usually depends on two things: 1) What caused the clog, and 2) How your lease reads.For example, my lease says “Tenant shall be charged for repair of drain blockages or stoppages, unless caused by defective plumbing parts or tree roots invading sewer lines.I have had tenants call me about clogs that were found to actually be caused by tree roots.

Still root for everything Michigan

Its a bit hard to make suggestions without knowing the root cause of this issue (why tenants decided to not pay rent) 

Real estate = roots.  

Staying, though if I didn't have family roots here....