Toilet's blocked. Who pays? Landlord or tenant?

conradmum

The title says it all really. Who's responsible for paying to have a toilet unblocked in a rental property? Does it depend on what's in the contract, or are there regulations governing this kind of thing?

fishpond

Who blocked it, the LL or the tenant or tree roots?:)
1) I initially pay to have it unblocked "possibly via insurance", if I can prove the tenant is responsible, the tenant gets the bill--to be paid to me within 30 days.
2) It may or may not be written in the contact, if it isn't --go to 1, in certain cases ie tree roots, I will pay, as it is beyond the control of the tenant.

[Deleted User]

I've lived in places with useless u bends, with toilets blocking frequently because of this, but usually managed to get it unblocked one way or the other. In the last place, if the toilet blocked, my first port of call was the sewer manhole.., it was usually that that was not draining so I'd be calling the water company up (it was a communal sewer). Sometimes I'd be doing this every couple of months.

Obviously if the tenant has thrown a brick down the toilet (Unlikely) its their problem.

Who pays/fixes depends on cause.

PrettyFlower90

We had this exact problem a few days after we moved in to our current house. The toilet started to become block and it couldn't be used and that's the only one we have. As we had most moved in a day or so, the landlord sent someone round immediately to fix it. It was fine, but then same thing started to happen again so they got someone round again and went into it in more detail. Turns out cement was blocking some of the pipes, but he also found some kitchen roll in there as well. The agents tried to say that if we flushed it down the toilet again we would have to pay for the plumber- we never flushed anything down it and we stood up against them to say that through plumber told us it was cement and that the kitchen roll could have been down there ages or from next door (possible shared pipes). It really depends on how and why it's blocked in the first place.

AdrianC

conradmum wrote: »

Does it depend on what's in the contract...

No, it depends on what's in the u-bend.

davidmcn

conradmum wrote: »

The title says it all really.

No it doesn't, really. You haven't told us why it's blocked.

csgohan4

Had much fibre recently?

conradmum

I don't know why it's blocked. The agency tell us the tenants can't fix it themselves and they're calling in a contractor.

Pixie5740

As a landlord then you have a responsibility for repairs to the toilet. However, if the tenant has caused the blockage, flushing sanitary towels down the toilet for example then whilst you need to ensure the tenant has a working toilet they are responsible for paying for the repair.

G_M

Pixie5740 wrote: »

As a landlord then you have a responsibility for repairs to the toilet. However, if the tenant has caused the blockage, flushing sanitary towels down the toilet for example then whilst you need to ensure the tenant has a working toilet they are responsible for paying for the repair.

Spot on.

LL should fix it or get it fixed, and find out what the cause was.

If blame lies with tenant, then tenant gets the bill. But if tenant contests blame, then evidence may be needed.

sheff6107

Landlord. Unblocking loos is in the job description.