farm cottage with no water !!

mardatha

My daughter has rented a farm cottage at £450 a month. They have a private water supply and it has run dry - she's had no water or only a trickle now & again, for over a week. What can she do about this ? Is it legal/acceptable? Can the LL be forced to reduce rent or anything ? She has 4 kids inc two big teens and 2 mucky youngsters, as well as herself & partner. No flushing toilet, no dishes washed, no baths/showers, no laundry done for over a week.:(

BitterAndTwisted

What is the source of the private water-supply? I thought it had bucketing down in Scottishland for weeks now....

clutton_2

has she talked to the landlord ? did she know it was a private supply when she moved in ?

if she knew ahead of signing the tenancy agreement she can hardly blame the landlord ....

getting money off the rent may be good but that wont wash the dishes... or the kids....

mardatha

Yes she knew it was private supply & has spoken to the farmer who says it has never happened before. The neighbour, who is the shepherd for the farm, says thats rubbish it happens every year... The farmer just says there's nothing he can do. It's a farm on top of a hill and the new house the farmer built has it's own new well.

BitterAndTwisted

What does the shepherd do in anticipation of the supply drying up in the summer months? Sounds like your daughter needs to invest in some rain-water butts or something

theartfullodger

Suggest she contacts Shelter Scotland urgently (they are a charity, it may take time..) see
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/
0808 800 4444

What sort of tenancy is it?? A [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Short Assured Tenancy within the meaning of[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Section 32 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988??[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]If so then it must adhere to the repairing standard, see[/FONT]

http://www.prhpscotland.gov.uk/prhp/1.html

I'd politely but firmly advise Landlord that I'd prefer he sorts things out very quickly (eg get a bowser- trailer with tank- round with water until problem fixed) and suggest he digs a new supply, but you'll be contacting PRHP and the local council housing dept for help if it ain't fixed.

However it may be an "Agricultural tenancy" in which case, call Shelter.
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice/advice_topics/renting_rights/agricultural_tenancies


I'd believe the Shepherd. In country areas supplies can run low/slow (I've rented a holiday cottage where the bath too 15 mins to fill) but the Landlord has responsibilities.

He is a registered Landlord aye?? see
https://www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk

- not registered, criminal offence

Cheers!

Lodger

theartfullodger

See PRHP guidance at
http://www.prhpscotland.gov.uk/prhp/files/Statutory%20Guidance%20on%20the%20Repairing%20Standard.pdf
Page 3

"
• the installations in the house for the supply of water, gas and electricity and for
sanitation, space heating and heating water are in reasonable repair and proper
working order (including installations outside the house but serving it, and which the
owner is responsible for maintaining, solely or communally);
"

Cheers!

Lodger (Scottish Landlord since 2000)

PS So why can't he put in a pumped pipe from his new well??
PPS It would be a shame if the local press got to find out: Mind you, might be a notice2quit then...

mardatha

Is a short assured tenancy for 6 months initially. The shepherd and 2 other tenants are all out all day and have no kids - this is maybe the problem. Two other older couples and the herd, all of them out most of the day and none of them have kids. Where she has a house of 6 and all of them in & out all day. I have sent her these replies , thank you.

theartfullodger

Is it at least 6months?? Some inexperienced LLs get the dates wrong (eg 1st Jan to 30thJune) which is one day short.. if so she has more rights as a tenant, regardless of what tenancy says. (!)

Re 6 people etc - the Landlord (presumably) knew this when he rented the place- if so definately his problem...

Cheers!

Lodger

mardatha

ok. now we just have to get him to DO something about it ! Ta

theartfullodger

Good luck! (PS Where is it: In the Highlands there is "lots of water" bleedin; everywhere...wetter than most summers)