Injured In House

swingtop

Hi all. My girlfriend was cleaning the glass door (connecting living room to kitchen) in our rented house. One of the panes shattered and her pinky went through the pane. She damaged tendons and had stitches. After some physio she is ok just a wee bit scarred and the finger is a bit bent i think she was very lucky! My question is i think the panes should have been toughened safety glass and i want her to go and see citizen's advice or a solicitor for damages. Anyone have any advice? Cheers

silvercar

The glass would only need to comply with the regulations in force at the time it was installed.

swingtop

silvercar wrote: »

The glass would only need to comply with the regulations in force at the time it was installed.

Broadly speaking what sort of regulations have been in place over the years. Surely the landlord should be checking things like this, making sure the house, fixtures and fittings etc are fit to live in and fit for purchase? Thanks in advance

silvercar

My story: An internal door slammed shut in the wind and the glass broke. The glazier told me that the regulations now meant that he would be replacing it with safety glass but there was no obligation to change the other panes in the same door.

Doozergirl

swingtop wrote: »

Broadly speaking what sort of regulations have been in place over the years. Surely the landlord should be checking things like this, making sure the house, fixtures and fittings etc are fit to live in and fit for purchase? Thanks in advance

Broadly speaking, none to what we have now

It was 1966 before any semblance of building regulations were introduced and the 80s I think before they were documented in the way they are now.

There are that many public injury solicitors out there, she might as well talk to one if it was that bad, but I don't think that just because someone is a landlord that they would know what type of glass was in a door or whether to replace it

If it was your own home would you have replaced that glass when you moved in? I couldn't say that myself and I'm a freak for replacing everything! I'd be inclined to put it down as 'one of those things'

If you had to meet current building regulations for everything, I reckon you'd have to knock down more than half the houses in this country and start again. Your LL wasn't obliged to replace the glass.

swingtop

Doozergirl wrote: »

Broadly speaking, none to what we have now

It was 1966 before any semblance of building regulations were introduced and the 80s I think before they were documented in the way they are now.

There are that many public injury solicitors out there, she might as well talk to one if it was that bad, but I don't think that just because someone is a landlord that they would know what type of glass was in a door or whether to replace it

If it was your own home would you have replaced that glass when you moved in? I couldn't say that myself and I'm a freak for replacing everything! I'd be inclined to put it down as 'one of those things'

If you had to meet current building regulations for everything, I reckon you'd have to knock down more than half the houses in this country and start again. Your LL wasn't obliged to replace the glass.

The house was built, i believe, in the eighties so the door is certainly not that old. If i was the landlord i would have everything sorted, watertight. I hear what you are saying about the state of houses in the U.K but it isn't really an excuse is it? Cheers

Ilian2008

Hi, r u worried that she might sue you for the damage? Did you ask her to clean the glass door?

swingtop

Ilian2008 wrote: »

Hi, r u worried that she might sue you for the damage? Did you ask her to clean the glass door?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sonofa

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend's accident, but it seems strange that she managed to shatter a pane of glass when cleaning it?

I've got to say this 'find someone to sue' attitude is also something unpleasant. You said 'pinky' are you American by any chance?

Ilian2008

Not sure why you are laughing. Its a very sensible question. Your tenancy agreement is likely to include a clause that you indemnify your Landlord against any claims.

Thanks

LisaLou1982

Why do you think you would be entitled to anything simply because your girlfriend injured herself on some glass??

If this comes across as something that was not your intention then please excuse me, but it appears like you are trying to see if you can claim for what appears to be a simple accident.

The landlord is not under any obligation to replace the glass or have had it fitted with toughened glas etc - this is not a requirement of building regs, planning permission or any other type of regulation. Be more careful in future