Rogue landlords, help needed...

frenetic_2

Hi, new poster here

Last week I had a mini-flood in my kitchen, when a pipe under the sink in my kitchen started leaking, going into my downstairs neighbours flat ruining carpet, bedding, etc. My neighbour has been great about it and I have paid to have the bedding cleaned.

But now my landlord has billed me 272.00 pounds for a new carpet, I should have suspected this when he put a decent one in with underlay, he doesn’t usually!
.He is saying it was my washing machine leaking and it’s my word against his plumber, who incidentally doesn’t speak any English at all, and I mean at all.The plumber who installed my washing machine has agreed to provide a letter stating the WM was installed correctly and there had been no problems upto now.

My neighbour tells me the landlord informed her that the plumber tightened the pipes under the sink and put sealant on, if so, that surely shows the pipes were detiorating, how can that be my fault? . the pipes becoming corroded is his responsibility and the floors are also rotten make them more permeable We also haven’t been Corgi checked for years: as there are children on the premises, he clearly doesn’t care about human life. I tried claiming on my household insurance with Endsleigh but apparently they don’t cover other peoples flats.

I' m not sure what to do, I really want to have it out with my crap landlord, , but I know he doesnt care and will take it out of my bond and getting a decent place in the PRS is not easy, and I am sure he will just say, ‘there’s the door’,

thus is life in todays Britain, rogue Landlords can get away with anything these days…

what do people think

poppysarah

\where did the pipe leak from? A joint? at an attachment?

He'll have claimed on his insurance perhaps - or perhaps not? Was that the only cost plus his plumbers time?

ziknik

You will be a doormat forever more if you let your landlord wipe his feet on you now.

Fight or Flight.

silvercar

Difficult one to attribute responsibility as the installation of your washing machine could have knocked the pipes; the pipes being knocked could have caused them to leak. No-one will know if the pipes were tightened after the WM was installed.

pollythena

Threaten him with legal action because he hasn't done the gas checks for the past few years.

Actually, don't just threaten him, report him. It's your life in his hands. Start looking for somewhere else to live.

MoneySavingSpender

What type of tenancy are you on? How long is it?
Is the deposit protected?
What has happened in the past with this landlord?
How approachable are they? Do they realise they essentially scamming you and is fraud and is a criminal offence?

flower_72

frenetic wrote: »

We also haven’t been Corgi checked for years: as there are children on the premises, he clearly doesn’t care about human life.
thus is life in todays Britain, rogue Landlords can get away with anything these days…

what do people think

This winds me up so much. There are children on the premises???
Why should the landlord care about them more than you do?!
You know the place doesn't have a valid gas certificate. If you really "care about human life" why don't you get at your landlord so he gets one as is the law. Or get to the council or whoever might want to listen. Do something about it.
You have rights as a tenant but you also have responsibilities. One of which is to ensure you live in a safe place.

Rogue landlords will get away with anything as long as moaning tenants will let them!

Rant over.

Re flooding. Put your foot down. The damage is due to lack of maintenance, wear and tear. You don't have to pay for that. It's your landlord's bill. Don't let him take advantage of you.
And do something about your gas certificate.

MoneySavingSpender

flower82 has a point unfortunately, the responsibility of the parent is greater than that of a greedy tightarse landlord. There are plenty of avenues to threaten action upon a landlord if you do your research.

frenetic_2

thanks for the comments, for many various reasons it is not easy for me to move, and yes, while it is my responsibility to challenge him over the Corgi issue, again for the reasons above this is not easy

anyway, back to the OP, as i said he is a very poor landlord, and i suspect he will just take it out of my bond if i refuse, i have just sent him a letter about the bill.

will i be able to claim on my insurance?

MoneySavingSpender

I wonder, if you could get away with being friendly with them but asking for a detailed and descriptive invoice/receipt from the landlord directly for the new carpet costs and ensuring it CLEARLY STATES that it was required due to damaged from the LEAKING pipe from the appliance.

Once that occurs, that alongside your tenancy agreement where it should state or at least imply the LL is responsible for all the white appliances and their maintenance you have instant proof THEY were negligent and you might be able to threaten to report them to the council and other authorities that might apply,

That could all just be wishful thinking of course.

P.S. Was the carpet the only thing that was fixed from the leak? I'd be surprised if such an amount of water ONLY damaged a carpet, floor boards? skirting boards? wall plaster? wallpaper? furniture etc? All because of his negligence.

ziknik

frenetic wrote: »

SNIP

will i be able to claim on my insurance?

You’ve already answered your own question

frenetic wrote: »

SNIP

I tried claiming on my household insurance with Endsleigh but apparently they don’t cover other peoples flats.

SNIP