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

G_M

Write (pen, paper) to the landlord named on the tenancy agreement and post it to the address provided "for serving notices". Post from a post office and get 'proof of posting'.

Send a copy to the letting agent (even if the address is the same).

* use bullet points with dates for
* when problem started
* when 1st reported and how
* when each contractor visited
* outcome f each visit
* dates you re-reported and how

* Also of course describe the problem and state clearly that "the property is uninhabitable".

* Also state that you will be forced to move out to a hotel as a result and will claim the costs from the Landlord.

As others have suggested, contact Environmental Health at the council.

Read:

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

Superspurs99

Hi thanks for the reply. We have wooden floors - the agent said there is a serious issue with the building and therefore it’s building management that are responsible not them. We are on the second floor so god knows what the people below us are experiencing - however I suspect it’s an empty investment flat (typical London).

But thank u so much for the reply, as the moment I’m using bottled water to flush the toilet and I am going to the gym to shower. I will definitely get in touch with Islington council and see if I can get environmental health involved - I’m sure there are health risks to having still water under your floorboards permanently

Superspurs99

Thank you so much for you’re reply - I’ll be calling environmental health and will let you know what they say!

HampshireH

If you have wooden floor and plasterboard ceilings and so do those below...... If the water under your floor and above their ceiling is as bad as suggested I'm be surprised if their ceilings are still in tact!

Superspurs99

Out of interest - what are people’s thiughts on me breakinnsown the door that holds the water mains switch so I can at least get water back in the house? My suspicion is I’d end up being charged...

elsien

It's not just the door. You need to consider your own liability if you turn the water back on and things get a lot worse.

PasturesNew

mr.generous wrote: »

stop paying rent

wrong!

cjmillsnun wrote: »

do not stop paying rent.

right!

PasturesNew

Superspurs99 wrote: »

as the moment I’m using bottled water to flush the toilet

Get a bucket, £1-2. Speak to neighbours and ask for a top up 1-2x a day. If you're the "chatty" type ... you could get 2-3 neighbours on your water run....

Red-Squirrel_2

G_M wrote: »

Write (pen, paper) to the landlord named on the tenancy agreement and post it to the address provided "for serving notices". Post from a post office and get 'proof of posting'.

Send a copy to the letting agent (even if the address is the same).

* use bullet points with dates for
* when problem started
* when 1st reported and how
* when each contractor visited
* outcome f each visit
* dates you re-reported and how

* Also of course describe the problem and state clearly that "the property is uninhabitable".

* Also state that you will be forced to move out to a hotel as a result and will claim the costs from the Landlord.

As others have suggested, contact Environmental Health at the council.

Read:

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

I think this is great advice, but its Saturday, the LL might not get that letter until Tuesday afternoon. This sounds like a fairly urgent situation, I'd be worried about falling through my floor! Is that possible if it continues to get wetter and wetter? I've certainly heard of baths falling through ceilings due to leaks people were unaware of.

Cakeguts

As this is a flat I am not sure what the OP's landlord can do because it is probably something that the the management company for the flats has to deal with.