Blocked on suite issue ( rent )

Tobyemery

Hello,

I'm asking for a friend to see where she stands on an issue which was reported in early December and still hasn't been rectified. She left the flat for 2 months as she was on leave from uni.


A plumber was called but he didn't fix it the first time, since then she has heard nothing, presuming the work was being carried out as they knew the flat was empty.

She has just got back and it is still blocked ( shower, basin and toilet) and has been told to use her friends bathroom. From what she's told me it is a macerator that needs replacing, a simple job.

Can she get a solicitor to write him letter about withholding rent until it is done? I know you need to be careful about with holding rent. As she is paying for her own on suite not too share.

It really does infuriate me how some of these student properties are ran.

AdrianC

Macerator toilets are hateful things, and very easily get blocked if they're fed the wrong things. Is she 100% certain that she hasn't contributed to the failure?

Pixie5740

No your friend can't go getting a solicitor to write a letter threatening to withhold rent. Well should could but it won't get her anywhere.

Assuming the property is in England or Wales, se Shelter's guide to getting repairs done.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets/reporting_repairs_to_a_landlord

There are a number of steps to be taken before your friend can pay for the repairs herself and deduct the cost from her rent.

This is all assuming that she hasn't done something to cause the blockage herself

Tobyemery

I know i hate things ! Yes she is , and I would of thought the plumber would of taken it apart to check for a foreign object. Which makes me believe its a burnt out motor.

Southend1

Perhaps the landlord believes the plumber fixed it? Your friend shouldn't assume it was being dealt with while she was away unless she made arrangements and gave permission for the plumber to access the property in her absence.

G_M

She should write a LETTER to the landlord, at the address provided, and a cpy to the agent (if any), reminding him when the problem ocurred, when it was eported, when the plumber came, with what result, and ask for information as to what will happen next, and when.

If this does not work, follow the next steps in the Shelter process for repairing.

By all means waste money on a solicitor, but..... why?

Old_Git

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1rBxESEhU

Tobyemery

Well if he did, I would of thought the plumber would of liaised with the landlord like a normal person would.

Its the landlords flat and he's aware of it, no contact in two months. I would be embarrassed to leave my tenant like that.

She'll see if it gets sorted this week now she's back if not I'll tell her to contact the landlord directly. It isn't a one off by the way, they've had problems with him in the past.

Thanks old git, maybe you should go unblock it, the landlord will pay up don't worry.