leaking shower- whos responsible?

Fire_Fox

If you need this doing urgently write to the landlord and contact EH simultaneously for advice. Please think very carefully about getting this repaired or replaced yourself, you are not supposed to damage or alter the structure of the landlord's property without written consent. Can you turn the water and/ or electric off to the shower unit without affecting the rest of the bathroom? You often can in modern flats. Check the fuse box/ circuit breaker, look under the bath or in the airing cupboards for little taps.

You would have to get a professional with all the right plumbing and sparks qualifications and registrations, replace to at least the same specification and quality, make good any damage to the tiling or bath. It could still cause you major headaches with your damage deposit at the end of the tenancy. Better to only do this if specifically advised to by EH.

I don't see why you can't put your children in the bath as long as it is safe, we shared when we were little. We often strip washed when camping and I am not scarred by the experience!

propertyman

When you say lease, the common useage of "lease" in E & W is someone who owns the flat ( it's misuse has crept in from colonials living here ).

Can we assume that you have an assured shorthold tenancy as you say you rent?

I suspect "lease" may have confused the person when you referred to it, as their reply "service charge" means that they may assume you are a leaseholder ( who repair their own showers) not a renting tenant.

Call them back and explain nicely but firmly

1: I rent from you - showers are yours to repair
2: It is leaking
3: I got an electric shock from the casing
4: I have no other means of bathing ( I assume)

"Can I please speak to person who deals with repairs inside rented flats please- I'll hold".

pinkshoes

Euphoria1z wrote: »

now i phoned the company that looks after the property and who holds the lease and the lady said she'll make some calls and get someone to look at it but said she wasnt sure if this is something that is covered under the service charge

I think you're worrying over nothing...

In a leasehold flat, the owners pay a service charge, and anything that is deemed structural, or comes under buildings insurance can often be fixed at the expense of the leaseholder.

They are just saying that they're not sure if this issue is the responsibility of the leaseholder, or if not, it will be the flat owner.

You need to give them a reasonable time to fix this, so keep chasing it up daily.

If it were me, I'd give them a week to fix it.

propertyman

[QUOTE=pinkshoes;56905647They are just saying that they're not sure if this issue is the responsibility of the leaseholder, or if not, it will be the flat owner.
[/QUOTE]

No ....... the flat owner is the leaseholder, they own a lease of the flat.

The person who is entitled to the reversion is the grantor, normally a freeholder, who granted a lease to the flat owner.

Showers are included in that lease and are the responsibility of the leaseholder- again- who is the flat owner, from who the OP rents.

"holding a lease" is another imported term associated with car or office equipment leases. Nowt to do with real property leases in E&W.

G_M

Euphoria1z wrote: »

The landlord is named on the lease as a Trust. The address and contact is of the management company who i contacted today by phone.

As propertyman says, there is/can be confusion over the term 'lease'.

Please clarify so we are 100% sure we understand your situation:

1) Have you bought a lease (perhaps with a mortgage) for many years (eg 80 years)?

If so, you are a leasholder. The 'management company' may own the freehold, or may be employed by the freeholder to manage the building as a whole (this would NOT include the shower).

OR

2) are you a tenant, with (probobly) an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). Confusingly this can sometimes be referred to as a 'lease'.

If so you are a tenant. Your landlord owns the flat (ie, he owns the lease in 1 above, as leaseholder). Your landlord IS responsible for the shower.

So - is it 1 or 2?

And is the person you spoke to your landlord (or their agent) or the freeholder (or their management company)?