No water in flat since Saturday morning...

head2head83

Hi all,

Our flat (and the rest in the block) have not had any water since approx 10 am on Saturday morning, and I was just after a bit of advice.

I called the 'Emergency' number for the water pump company and was told that they couldn't do anything without the go ahead from the management company. I tried calling the management company but had to leave a message as it looks like they've disappeared for the bank holiday.

I eventually got through to our landlord (who are also a big housing association, but we are private tenants), who had finally got to speak to the duty officer of the management company and had it confirmed that 'the problem is something that cannot be fixed until Tuesday'.

We've been advised by our landlords that they have done all they can and told to keep the receipts for all the water we are buying and 'take it up with the management company'. I feel a bit fobbed off to be honest as surely our landlords can be doing something?

I can't see anything happening today, but my plan of action was to write a physical letter to our landlords suggesting that they should be seeking some sort of compensation from the management company on our behalf, and also write a brief email telling them to expect the letter. I'm unsure whether to approach the management company directly as well?

I can't believe that there's not more they could have done, given the number of flats involved. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I hope I've explained everything properly - I'm happy to clarify anything if not.

Thrugelmir

head2head83 wrote: »

I feel a bit fobbed off to be honest as surely our landlords can be doing something?

Such as what?

head2head83

Well, perhaps not doing something NOW, but seeing as I pay management fees as part of my rent, perhaps they could be supplying bottled water or something? I am essentially paying rent for a service I'm not getting - they should be the ones 'taking it up' with the management company - not us. Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding something.

My landlords have actually been pretty helpful - I have more of a problem with the management company not answering their phones on what is supposed to be an 'emergency' number.

My post was more about getting advice on how to go about complaining and getting some sort of recompense for the inconvenience - I guess I'm just frustrated that nothing can be done. What's the point of an 'emergency' number if no one responds to it?

G_M

Do you mean you pay the management fee for the building as a separate charge on top of your rent - unusual;

Or that your landlord pays these fees after receiving your rent - ie he is responsible for them? Your rent/may/may not have been adjusted to account for the fees, but that is irrelevant.

The LL appears to have done pretty much all he can. The issue is not confined to your flat/tenancy - it is a block issue. The Managemet Company is dealing with it, albeit not really as a matter of urgency I agree, but then we don't know what the constraints are (no parts available till suppliers open.......?)

Get Sainsburys to deliver a bulk order of water to see you through a couple of days, and keep the receipt to claim back......

Just occassionally, life sucks a bit an no one is to blame.

zaax

!!!!!!!! any decent plumber will have stocks in or know where to get parts any time of day or night. They are fobbing you off because costs are cheaper during the week.

abaxas

Unfortunate timing making the whole thing a huge pain.

If it's not sorted on Tuesday, I'd start using shorter words (usually of 4 letters) to your LL.

Ich_2

So if the fault was a result of a problem with the water supply company, you would be entitled to £25 after 12 hours and £12 for every 10 hours after that.
So someone has assesed that as a reasonable level of compensation in these circumstances so I would have thought it not unreasonable that the LL/management company should be looking at this level of payment.
Some say that the LL is doing all they can, but they employed a management company that doesn't have the resources to deal with the issue, if they can be contacted at all.

The OP seems to suggest that it is a water pump problem, is it? Or is it a supply problem in which case if the site was visited to confirm exactly what the issue is could make a huge difference to the outcome, but even this does not seem possible

head2head83

G_M wrote: »

Do you mean you pay the management fee for the building as a separate charge on top of your rent - unusual;

Or that your landlord pays these fees after receiving your rent - ie he is responsible for them? Your rent/may/may not have been adjusted to account for the fees, but that is irrelevant.

Just occassionally, life sucks a bit an no one is to blame.

Thanks for this - yes, I pay it as part of my overall rent. I think you've hit the nail on the head really.

Ich - I'm assuming it's a pump problem as the water company have denied it's anything to do with them and its just the block of flats that's affected. My mum 5 minutes down the road is fine. I'm pondering whether to talk to the management company directly or just to the LL? Any thoughts?

I reckon there's going to be a good few angry people on the phone to the management company tomorrow!

Thanks again for the replies.

franklee

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Such as what?

Inviting the OP round to his place for a shower would be a nice gesture.
Or if not local making a room available in a B&B, perhaps there would be a deal if it's just for a couple of hours.
Offering to reimburse the OP for bottled water spending.
Employing a management company who man their emergency phone number.
Calling out a plumber/engineer on a gasp bank holiday weekend.

There is plenty he could do if he so wished but the cheaper option is to wait for Tuesday regardless that the OP it's not getting what he's paying rent for.

Kynthia

I think people are getting confused. If we are talking about a management company that manage the whole building then the landlord hasn't employed them the freeholder has! Unless of course the landlord owns a share in the freehold.

The landlord is likely to own a leasehold flat where the freeholder owns the whole building and employs a management company to handle the running and maintenance of the building. I do agree that the tenant doesn't have a relationship with the freeholder and it's management company, therefore the landlord should handle communication regarding any due compensation.

head2head83

Thanks for the replies.

As far as I understand it, the housing association (my 'landlord') own the freehold of the building so I'm guessing they should have some clout with regards to talking to the management company.

Apparently things are going to be fixed today (no sign of anything yet though!). I'm going to be on the phone to the landlord later and suggesting that they might want to rethink using this particular management company!

I'll keep you all posted on developments. Thanks again for the input.