Burst pipe - can't contact landlord!

wassupbob

Last weekend we had a pipe burst on the outside wall of our property. This resulted in no water to the upper floor of our place and we turned the water off as it was spraying into an extractor fan thing of a neighbour and causing them problems..
Having failed to get into contact with the landlord (number he left us and another number we have obtained from the letting agent, both appear to be always off or diconnected ) we bodged the pipes together and turned the water back on. It appears to be holding at the minute with a bit of a dribble.
Where do we go from here? Get it fixed ourselves and try to get the money back off the landlord when we eventually get into contact with him? Or leave it and risk it damaging the neighbours if it starts spraying again?!?

LilacPixie

What do the letting agent have to say about it??

BitterAndTwisted

This is something you should be burdening your letting agent with in the first instance. There are set procedures for arranging the work yourself and deducting it from the rent but you must give the landlord an opportunity to address this. Phone the agent and follow it up with it in writing, perferably by Recorded Delivery. You might need a paper-trail in the future if the landlord doesn't take care of it in a reasonable time

clutton_2

read Shelters website for how to go about making repairs and deducting the cost from the rent

Fire_Fox

Have you tried writing to the landlord?

wassupbob

My letting agent basically told me it was the landlord's responsibility and I needed to contact him.
Do you guys think the letting agent has a level of responsibility here too?
I thought it would be the landlord but he should be contactable. I'll keep trying to ring him for a few days and then write him.
I'm just worried that if the pipe goes again and does damage to the neighbours property will I be liable or the landlord?

wassupbob

If i'm honest i dont really want to get the work done and then worry about getting the money back. I'd much rather the landlord sorted it.

BitterAndTwisted

wassupbob wrote: »

My letting agent basically told me it was the landlord's responsibility and I needed to contact him.
Do you guys think the letting agent has a level of responsibility here too?
I thought it would be the landlord but he should be contactable. I'll keep trying to ring him for a few days and then write him.
I'm just worried that if the pipe goes again and does damage to the neighbours property will I be liable or the landlord?

Landlords can have different types of contracts with their agents, some just use an agent to find, credit-check tenants and collect rents on their behalf and others have full repair and maintenance contracts as well.

It sounds to me like your landlord's agents don't have the latter type of contract with your landlord in which case you must pursue the landlord and urgently.

The property and all of its services are the responsibility of the landlord to maintain and repair where any damage is not caused accidentally by the tenant and that's why they need to have the appropriate insurance in place in any case. Your responsibility as a tenant is to report it to the landlord as soon as you possibly can which you have been trying to do but abandoned phone calls aren't proof which is why you should now write to your landlord right away. Like today by Recorded Delivery.

martindow

Have you other contact details for LL apart from a phone number? Can LA give you more info?

poppysarah

do you have an address for the landlord?

When is the rent due?

Fire_Fox

wassupbob wrote: »

My letting agent basically told me it was the landlord's responsibility and I needed to contact him.
Do you guys think the letting agent has a level of responsibility here too?
I thought it would be the landlord but he should be contactable. I'll keep trying to ring him for a few days and then write him.
I'm just worried that if the pipe goes again and does damage to the neighbours property will I be liable or the landlord?

I don't understand why you have asked for advice and then decided not to take it. The proper procedure is to report all problems to the landlord in writing, by all means report an emergency by telephone but you should still follow up with a letter or e-mail to cover yourself in case of query.