Renter with water under the floorboards and no running water - help!

Superspurs99

For 10 days water has been coming up through the floorboards. The property is run by an agency, who have sent people around. All they’ve done has turn off our water so we can’t even flush the toilet! It’s now been a week like this without any water - and the water on the floor is getting worse too. Does anyone know what my rights are? I’ve contacted them everyday for 10 days telling them to fix it but they just said it’s ‘building managements’ fault and there’s nothing they can do.

What are my rights with running water- is getting ridiculous! Today they sent someone round I showed him the floor, he looked shocked and said he was just going to go make a call. He locked the cupboard where the mains is held (I don’t have a key) and just disappeared without saying anything and didn’t come back! I’m trapped without water and with what seems like a potentially leak - I can’t even walk around the house without getting wet.

Help!!:mad:

Mr.Generous

Stop paying rent, take photo's and videos, put your complaints IN WRITING (email fine) to the agent and the actual landlord - the agent is obliged to supply landlord details to you. Look for somewhere else to move to.

cjmillsnun

Do NOT stop paying rent. You will be in breach of contract if you do. The LL is in breach but 2 wrongs don't make a right

Look on your contract for the address to serve notices to. Make a formal request in writing that this is repaired immediately as the property is unfit for human habitation.

You also need to get in touch with your local council's environmental health and housing departments and ask them to do a Housing Health and Safety Rating System assessment as a matter of urgency. They can take enforcement action against the landlord.

HampshireH

Agree with cjmillsnun do not stop paying rent that is the worst piece of advice.

If your 'LL isn't prepared to take any responsibility then force their hand by getting environmental health round. I assume You Are in a house or ground floor flat else the person below you is probably suffering quite significantly.

If the water is off but the floors are getting wet its definitely a leak. If you think it's a mains leak you could try the water board.

If a heating pipe leaks when an engineer needs to come out quickly. I would make my way to the agent office and request an emergency response. You must put everything in writing too.

Do you have wooden or concrete floors?

Norman_Castle

they just said it’s ‘building managements’ fault and there’s nothing they can do

Have they contacted "building management"? Can you contact them?

I would contact your local water company. If the internal stop tap is off but water is still leaking there is likely to be an external stop tap. If not they may cap the supply.


I would expect compensation for being without water for 10+ days.

pinkshoes

Environmental Health! Call them NOW!

You cannot be expected to live in a house with no running water!

The LL also needs to quickly find a solution. End your tenancy (with your agreement), fix it immediately, or find you alternative temporary accommodation.

csgohan4

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Stop paying rent, take photo's and videos, put your complaints IN WRITING (email fine) to the agent and the actual landlord - the agent is obliged to supply landlord details to you. Look for somewhere else to move to.

What stupid advice, you risk getting a CCJ and eviction doing this. Tenant can't just move out if they are in contract, they are still liable for the rent.

Pixie5740

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Stop paying rent, take photo's and videos, put your complaints IN WRITING (email fine) to the agent and the actual landlord - the agent is obliged to supply landlord details to you. Look for somewhere else to move to.

Indeed the advice to stop paying rent is bad advice. The OP is contractually obligated to keep paying the rent. Email may not be fine it depends on what the tenancy agreement says about the serving of notices.

Pixie5740

WRITE (ink, paper, postage stamp) to the address for the serving of notices given in your tenancy agreement and then contact Environmental Health.

You could try negotiating an early surrender of the tenancy with your landlord and find somewhere else to live.

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

sevenhills

pinkshoes wrote: »

Environmental Health! Call them NOW!
You cannot be expected to live in a house with no running water!

The LL also needs to quickly find a solution. End your tenancy (with your agreement), fix it immediately, or find you alternative temporary accommodation.

If you see council accommodation as a good thing, ask them for somewhere to live.

ampersand

In addition to pixie's advice, obtain and retain a Certificate of Posting for everything sent.

Even now, with RM sold off, a COP legally means a 1st class stamped letter is deemed delivered within 48hrs.