Landlord refusing to repair toilet...

sjkani · 4 January 2009 at 5:22PM

Since moving into a rented house on 24/11/08 the toilet has not 'removed' all waste - takes 3 or 4 flushes, and usually a bit of 'help' (won't upset anyone with the details) After hours & weeks of calls and a stern complaint letter the agents got a plumber out but Landlord has refused to repair, citing cost as too much. Letting Agent has suggested they can do no more & to repair ourselves and claim for costs in small claims court. Surely this breaches the shorthold tenancy obligations of the landlord regarding 'proper working order' of sanitation?

I'd love to be witholding rent but (unwisely in retrospect) paid 6 months up front...oh, might aswell mention that landlords 'friends' have been coming around intimidating us (this is not our only repair issue) and now Landlord herself is threatening to come to the property next weekend to 'see the problem'...I'm off to CAB in the morning to see about taking it further.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

poppysarah · 4 January 2009 at 5:25PM

Speak to private sector housing team at the council who can encourage landlords to do repairs.

sjkani · 4 January 2009 at 5:28PM

Thanks poppysarah - they are on my list after I've been to CAB!

Badger_Lady · 4 January 2009 at 5:28PM

sjkani wrote: »

Surely this breaches the shorthold tenancy obligations of the landlord regarding 'proper working order' of sanitation?

That's exactly what you should say in court... there's no legal way to force your landlord into action, but there is a way to get money back from him via the small claims court.

Assuming you can afford to wait for the compensation, get the work done (finding the cheapest quote and keeping all paperwork), then register your claim online. A professional plumber verifying the problem should be sufficient.

I am slightly confused about the landlord's point of view - do they think there's no problem, or do they think the problem's too expensive to fix? It can't be both!

97trophy · 4 January 2009 at 5:33PM

This is absolutely awful!

Go back to the letting agent, get their manager and moan like hell!

I am a LL and this type of negligence is disgusting.

I think you are right in that the LL is breaching his contract - threaten legal action.

sjkani · 4 January 2009 at 5:36PM

Thanks Badger_lady - we are of the opinion that its the cost that is her main gripe. She hasn't denied the problem - yet! But she'd struggle when the letting agents have seen for themselves it doesn't flush & two separate plumbers have quoted for it!

sjkani · 4 January 2009 at 5:37PM

Thanks 97trophy - good to know that a LL also agrees its awful!

zaphod_beeblebrox_2 · 4 January 2009 at 5:39PM

B&Q's / Homebase / Wilkinson’s sell a chemical solution that you pour into the bowl, leave and flush. else use Caustic Soda (with care) If that doesn’t work buy or hire a set of 'rods' and an ordinary sink plunger

The problem is usually in the U bend (hidden within the bowl) as its a rental, your previous tenants may have put unmentionables down the pan as they didn’t care

This is all very cheap and easy to do but ugly and that’s why plumbers charge so much to do it, because they don’t want to do it, albeit a 20 minute job at most

Life is too short, try it first before pursuing the landlord with his attitude

skint-student-nurse · 4 January 2009 at 5:41PM

keep a diary of when the 'firiends' come round and everytime you speak to your LL and LA, i had to do this last winter when the boiler in my previous house kept going out as they were so reluctant to fix it and i had so much hassle and intimidation. there is santiation issues hear and its not fair as you have a right to sanitation!

Kavanne · 4 January 2009 at 5:43PM

If it;s not flushing strongly enough you could get a bucket instead in the meantime? We poured a bucket of water down the loo when our flush broke (didn't work at all)

sjkani · 4 January 2009 at 5:44PM

Thanks zaphod - good tips to try & I might do the first one (when my 2yr old is back at nursery!) The problem is with the toilet fitting, modern toilet too low to the floor for the old cast iron casing - the repair is for the toilet to be raised on a plinth (sp)...thats my basic understanding of it.

The previous tenant was in fact, the landlady herself - still probably put unmentionables down it though!

Landlord refusing to repair toilet...

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