Trying to get landlord to fix dodgy shower

Super_Whiskey

So on Saturday the shower hose fell out of the electric shower unit (it was on its way out anyway as there was already a bit of water leaking out the bottom of it). So naturally, I tried to put it back in however upon switching the shower back on I got a low electric shock and the hose fell back out again. So I sent a message to the landlord who said call the plumber whose number he'd provided.

As this happened late on Saturday, I tried the plumber on Sunday but didn't really expect an answer however on Monday I got a response that suggested the plumber didn't really want to know about the dodgy, potentially dangerous shower so I gave the landlord a call Monday lunchtime who said he'd get a property maintenance guy he knows to take a look at it.

Having heard from neither by Tuesday lunch time, I gave the landlord a call who said he'd chase him up. Tried the landlord that evening who said he'd try again.

This brings us up to today where I've tried the landlord again to no response and starting to reach the end of my tether. He's aware that it's potentially dangerous and had a reasonable amount of time to sort the issue or arrange to get the issue sorted.

How much longer do I give it before calling another plumber and just invoicing the landlord for any costs incurred?

vqmismatch

I'd hold fire for a week or so, I assume you have some other way of washing like a bath.

The landlord gave the chap a phone on Monday lunchtime at best, his chap will likely be working and not necessarily immediately available. He tries again in the evening when again he may well not be imminently available. Even assuming he gets hold of the chap today it may be a few days till he is available, if he is available. Then try the next one etc…

Were it your house I suspect it wouldn't be getting fixed any faster.


If super anxious to get it done I'd just isolate the circuit and replace the electric shower yourself if the landlord is happy for it. They aren't hard to diy and it will get the job done much faster and cheaper.

Pixie5740

You've got quite a while to go before you can sort out the repair yourself and charge the landlord for it. Step 1 in the process is write a letter and you've not even done that yet.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/what_to_do_if_your_landlord_wont_do_repairs

This only happened a few days ago and the landlord just has to get things repaired in a reasonable time frame which is a bit woolly really. It's not as though your landlord hasn't done anything it's just that the tradespeople required don't seem to be that interested in getting the job done. Sometimes it can be a bit of a nightmare getting tradespeople especially for piddly wee jobs.

Super_Whiskey

Thank you both for the quick responses.

Ultimately it's the lack of communication on their part. I feel I've done enough by reporting the incident and the potential dangerousness of it in a timely manner. Fortunately I have someone locally who has let me use their shower but it's the inconvenience of it which adds to the problem. The letter is probably something to do if nothing's progressed by the weekend. Likewise, there's texts and phone calls to give evidence of notification.

Even if I did have the required skill to replace the unit and not kill myself, if anything were to go wrong the landlord can turn around and say "You fitted it".

As for the reasonable time frame, if it was a light fitting, maybe a bit of damp etc then possibly you could expect to wait a bit longer but not having a properly functioning shower unit? 2 weeks would be pushing it to the extreme.

Thrugelmir

Super_Whiskey wrote: »

2 weeks would be pushing it to the extreme.

Maybe so. Round here tradespeople are fully booked up. As no shortage of work. Just obtaining a quote can take a couple of weeks.

harrys_dad

Do you have an alternative source of hot water? Are you able to wash? If the answer to both of these is yes, as I expect it is, then whilst I understand your annoyance at the inconvenience that is all it is, not an emergency. Isolate the shower as suggested above.

davidmcn

Super_Whiskey wrote: »

the potential dangerousness of it

It's only dangerous if you try using it (or fixing it, if you don't know what you're doing). So switch it off and leave it alone.

As for the timescale, it's only three working days so far - are you sure you'd be in any better position if you were an owner-occupier trying to get it sorted?

G_M

As Pixie said, the first step (which you've still failed to do it seems) is to report the problem properly, in writing, to the proper address.

This is imprtant for several reasons, so do it now.

And see

* Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new protection (2015)

Mr.Generous

I am struggling a bit to understand the low electric shock. If its an electric shower it would be a wee bit more than a tingle, have a look at your mains board (consumer unit / fuse box) and see what rating the shower circuit is and if it has tripped (or blown if its a really old fuse job), if its a 40a circuit then I guess your pretty lucky - the wiring inside every shower I have ever fitted is quite some distance away from the water outlet.

kinger101

Mr.Generous wrote: »

I am struggling a bit to understand the low electric shock. If its an electric shower it would be a wee bit more than a tingle, have a look at your mains board (consumer unit / fuse box) and see what rating the shower circuit is and if it has tripped (or blown if its a really old fuse job), if its a 40a circuit then I guess your pretty lucky - the wiring inside every shower I have ever fitted is quite some distance away from the water outlet.

The extent of the shock would depend on whether a circuit is being completed. No water flowing and no contact with taps might be fine. Add some water and earthed plumbing, and it's very likely to be lethal.

OP needs to isolate the circuit with the shower at the consumer unit. If I were a landlord, I'd be round there making sure it had been done properly. Saying my casual unqualified odd job bob wasn't available for a couple of weeks wouldn't sound too clever in court. I know homeowners might have the same problem, but being a landlord has responsibilities. This includes getting very worried when a tenant mentions any problem involving water + electricity + earthed metalwork.

G_M

Agreed.

but all needs documenting properly in writing to the LL. Not at the weekend but yesterday.

Doesn't need to be agressive or accusatory: a polite, friendly letter recapping the emails/phonecalls.......