Hmmm, my first thought is that if you can find a way to level out the floor with boards, you could lay those wood tiles that look like slats. They're not permanent, I've seen people put them on porches, etc. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?

I just saw an episode of "Ask This Old House" that maybe you should watch: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/ask-toh/products-and-services/episode/0,,20567062_20534391,00.html Basically, he covered an ugly cement patio with floating deck tiles. They look fantastic, snap together, don't require adhesive and best of all...they drain! So you'd get a level patio that looks great and still offers the drainage your landlord originally wanted.

Rocks?

i've had a similar problem - there were holes in the deck and the landlord didn't think it was a problem (his grandmother, who owned the property did and she fixed it when she heard)

We basically built a floating wood frame and deck over the entire patio. It wasn't too big so it didin't cost too much and we took it with us when we moved and used to wood for something else

I'm not sure what your budget is but the pros use patio pavers on adjustable pedestals.

http://www.tiletechpavers.com/pavers/Pedestals-Pavers-Advantages.html

You could probably "McGiver" something cheaper.

Could you build just a 3' or 4' wide slatted wood walkway to cover the deepest part of the groove? Otherwise I'd go for an entire deck, I guess. It would still allow the drainage but would be flat and level and would look GREAT. Do it in sections so you can take it with you or sell it when you leave (maybe sell to the next tenant?).

@threeacres: I think you're talking about the kind of tiles one might get from http://www.swiftdeck.com/. These are less expensive than the adjustable ones that Duane Hill mentioned (probably about half the price). They're great - I have them for my roofdeck, but they don't do anything to level out that kind of dip. As you said, you could build a platform for them, but at that point you probably just want to build a deck.

To elaborate on my original response, I would just fill the whole area with gravel.It looks like a small enough space you can do it for not too much. I would maybe putsome larger rocks around the drain though so the little bits don't block it.

I think all of the above comments are more pragmatic as a renter. That said, if you're looking for a different alternative, just a quick note:

You don't need a very steep grade to get water to flow down to the center, so it should be possible to make the slant much more gradual. Then you carve out a trench drain in the middle, for which there are covers. You've probably seen them before.

Here's a good image of how it should be done: http://www.cenews.com/userfiles/image/issue-images/2007-10-Trench-Fig2.jpg

Would be a perfect mini golf hole...just saying...

I would second the notion of filling with rocks (screen drain hole first!) or using pallets or other cheap/temporary decking to make a level patio.

Ikea sells those snap together wooden deck tiles, You might not need TOO many, you can probably get away with just covering the offending area. Not sure how you'd level it to get them to sit flat - perhaps some fine gravel.

Another idea, depending on how handy you are and your access to tools, you can probably make a pretty simple landing, that is a few feet wide and shimmed up precisely.

If you are dead broke and unhandy, and you just want to reduce the trip hazard and the drop-off .... maybe something like a pallet (a European pallet preferrably - they have tighter boards) - or a modified american pallet with some extra boards nailed into it to make it more solid. It sounds ghetto - but I can picture painting it the same tone as the floor, and then tack on a decorative doormat onto it. Lay something underneath, like some rubber grip mats so it stays in place.

Lastly, in all honesty... it looks weird but really is that what is stopping you from using the space? Stick a cafe table or a picnic table out there, maybe an outdoor rug... and once you have some stuff in there I think it stops looking so weird and you'll realize its probably not as big of a problem as you think

Perfect place for a no irrigation planting area. Try filling with a combo of dirt and gravel and planting some low growing "steppable" plants in it. It'll make an interesting walkway/patio.

I think you need to build a raised deck to cover the entire area to make it level and safe. Use the faux wood slats (Trex) and leave small spaces in-between each slat for drainage. But, where the deck comes close to the walls of the building, where there area several openings, you would need to leave at least a 6" space between the wall and the deck, for proper drainage ( to keep water from going into the openings in the walls). Maybe since the space is shared, your neighbor might want to help with the cost!

I would use fine gravel to fill in the sunken area, packed in well, with a screen to prevent the gravel from blocking the pipe. Then I would put a giant outdoor rug over the whole area. Voila!

As a renter, you need to 1. ask your landlord if you are allowed to do anything.
As it is a shared space, you need to 2. ask the other renter how they feel about it.

After you've jumped those hurdles, feel free to ask us for our opinions, but until then, it's not your space.

If you can't pour a self-leveling concrete, you could use some similar decking tiles like the ones in your link. They have them at Ikea, and they look great! http://goo.gl/z4HHK

How about leveling the area up with a load of gravel?

Gravel or Pea stone would make it a lot easier to level, still allow drainage and you can place pavers where you want. Alternatively, you could make it a crazy feature by painting it with something wild like black and white checkers that gradually get smaller like they're being sucked down the drain pipe. LOL Would look pretty wild....

build a deck in that area

I am astonished SUITEP would suggest pouring self-leveling concrete or that DIRTYWORK would suggest filling in this area with dirt and gravel, or all the other folks who suggest dumping gravel in the area, (with or without screen to cover the drain). I can only assume these folks didn't read or understand that this is a RENTAL PROPERTY. The ONLY reasonable thing to here is a solution that (1) doesn't impede drainage, (2) can be installed and removed with any damage to the property, and (3) done with the prior okay of the landlord.

People there are consequences for changing [and messing up] the drainage around a property. For example: turning this into a planter bed or filling this area with concrete would cause water to pond up against the adjacent walls -- two of which look to me to be the outside walls of the living unit(s). Ponding water can and will infiltrate cracks and promote mold and mildew to say nothing of becoming an active breeding ground for mosquitoes.

bean bags

It may be less expensive to level the legs of a used outdoor table to the grade so it is less noticeable when you are sitting in the area.

Your landloard should fix this problem. Hope no one breaks an ankle, safety card.

I saw this used in Spain and it was perfect.... faux grass....you know the fake outdoor grass carpet? Somehow walking on uneven grass was easy and it'll still drain and it'd be quick, easy and look really cute.

ValSJ, The reason I and others suggest gravel is because it's permeable. Water will go through it. Perhaps, I should have been more specific but if one does a mixture of 90% gravel and 10% soil just on the very top of the gravel you can grow some small plants. All without damaging the concrete. However, you are correct. Everything needs to be landlord approved regardless of what anyone thinks will look good or be functional in the space.