Is my landlord allowed to ask me to pay for installation of a shower?

PupPup

Hello everyone,

Although this is the third property I've rented I'm not fully up on what a landlord can and cannot expect you to pay for.

I rent a house without a shower. I prefer a shower to a bath, and have one of those shower things that goes onto your bath taps as this makes hair-washing much easier. I did ask the landlord about installation of a basic electric shower, and he said it would not be a problem as long as the bath area was fully tiled and a shower screen (and not a curtain) was fitted. He also said that it would have to be at my expense.

Now, I intend to live in this house long-term as I have today been made permanent in my new job in the town I'm renting in. Because of this, I do want to get a proper shower installed at some point. My main question really is can the landlord insist that I do this at my own expense? And of I do it at my own expense, does this mean that he cannot increase the rent due to the 'improvements' carried out? And by that logic, if I insist the landlord pays, can he increase my rent to cover the cost?

If I do have to pay, my Dad is a plumbing and heating engineer and has offered to do the work at a reduced labour rate for me, and I am very grateful for that, but I would prefer it if the landlord we're required to do it instead as I'm not on a very high income and I'm working with CAP as I've got nearly £10k of debts.

Also, we have a smoke detector upstairs and a gap where one used to be downstairs. Is the landlord required to replace the missing detector, or should I just go and buy one and attach it where I can see one used to be?

Many thanks in advance,

Pup-Pup

princeofpounds

If there was no shower in place when you agreed to rent, then yes, the LL can refuse your request and only grant permission if you pay for it.

The LL may decide to improve their own property and pay for it, but that is totally their choice.

The rent cannot be increased until your fixed term ends. At that point, it is totally open to negotiation.

You would be foolish to invest any significant money in a Landlord's property. Your security of tenure is no greater than the fixed term of your contract.

The property doesn't sound so great, so why not play hardball and say you would like to renew but won't do so unless you get a shower in place. It's pretty archaic not to have a shower and the LL may well end up with a void if you decide to leave. You could offer a longer term contract in return for the improvement.

Of course if you really want to stay that may not be an option as you have to be prepared to call their bluff.

With the smoke detector, it's probably easiest to buy a battery one and get on with life.

Werdnal

You rented the property without a shower and the LL has no obligation to install one. If you insist you want a shower and the LL has agreed (get it in writing), then you pay for it as it is your choice to have one. He cannot force you to pay for it, any more that you can force him to let you have one installed - you have asked to make a change to the property and therefore you pay.

However, you are adding and "improvement" to a property which is only "yours" for the duration of the tenancy, and this could be ended by the LL after your FT expires. It is entirely up to you whether you want to commit to this expenses on the LL's property and risk being moved on at his earliest opportunity.

The time to negotiation on shower installation and costs was before you moved in, as you had a little bargaining power then, but now you are in its "like it or lump it".

PupPup

Thanks for your advice.

We did discuss before taking on the tenancy, which is when the landlord verbally agreed to it. I will ensure I get permission in writing before doing any work.

The property itself is lovely otherwise, and in the area I live in (Forest of Dean) there are an awful lot of rental properties without showers, so it isn't that uncommon here.

With regards to costs, as I said my dad is prepared to do the work for me at a reduced rate. Apart from the tiling (which I can do myself at a fairly low cost using recycled tiles) I would be laying out in the region of £150. Now this is rather a lot of money to me at present, but I don't feel it is an excessive amount to spend, providing my tenancy is extended. Though it ought to be as I always pay my rent on time and take good care of the property.

On the plus side, my dad knows my landlord from school and seems to think he is a good guy, so I don't foresee any problems, I just didn't know what the rules may be.

I gather then that, as long as I get written permission from the landlord for the work to be done, it is okay for him to expect me to pay for it as it is something I want done, not something he wants done. Just like he is not obliged to fix my white goods as the house was rented as unfurnished.

Thanks again ��

Pup-Pup

Werdnal

If you are doing the tiling yourself, make sure you use the correct tile adhesives/grouting etc, as should there be any damage or water ingress due to your changes to the property, the LL can charge you to put this right. Not doubting your ability to do the work properly, but any loss the LL makes following your work on his property is your responsibility!

martinsurrey

also, your dad may be a heating engineer, but is he an electrician?

if you install an electric shower it will need to be notified to building control (either directly, or through a competant person scheme), which could push up your costs

princeofpounds

yes electric showers require special circuits, they are not jobs for the layman.

PupPup

My dad has been a plumbing and heating engineer for 40 years and has all the relevant qualifications for it. I may not even go for am electric shower of there is a better alternative available. My dad is also Gas Safe (Corgi) registered if I go for something different. And I'm pretty sure he knows about all the relevant regulations.

I'm also aware of the possibility of being charged if my work causes problems, but I'm confident in my ability to tile properly, so don't foresee anything going wrong. Apart from the fact that the house is pre-fab concrete, it's nothing I haven't done before. Also, depending on the cost, I may choose to put up respatex as this would require less joints and therefore less chance of moisture seepage.

This isn't some silly little whim, I have put some thought into it and if I can save up the required money I will submit a detailed plan to my landlord to seek his approval. I just didn't know what the rules we're about me paying for the work as I've not done this in a rental property before.

Many thanks,

Pup-Pup

ReadingTim

PupPup wrote: »

...Apart from the tiling (which I can do myself at a fairly low cost using recycled tiles)

I'm not sure what you mean by "recycled" tiles, but I'd be wary of doing this too cheaply / cutting too many corners, in case the landlord takes against your workmanship and charges you (or witholds from your deposit) the cost of repairing or making good your 'improvements' when you move out

PupPup

By recycled tiles I mean tiles that are listed on sites like Gumtree which have been ordered by a developer and are then surplus to requirement, so the developer sells them on at a reduced price or gives them away for free.

I actually know of someone at present who is using the same size tiles as in my bathroom and there is a chance that they will have enough leftover for what I need. Unless I go for the respatex, but that is more expensive.

Pup-Pup

ging84

Have you considered asking the landlord for a contribution?
What the landlord might consider a small contribution might be enough to do the whole job if you are only paying your dad a small amount for labour, and he can probably get a trade discount on the materials.