Kitchen Sink doesn't work

HarryGray

Hi everyone,

I moved into my flat at the end of August. Since then I've been in a constant battle with the property manager regarding our kitchen sink. IT DOES NOT UNBLOCK. We've tried everything. We've had plumbers over (sent by the property manager) and he says its probably an external pipe.

The property manager claims there's nothing he can really do as its significant work to the kitchen. We've signed this place for 2 years and cant use the kitchen sink because of this. What are the tenants rights in this situation? Must a landlord fix something like this? Is a broken kitchen sink enough to warrant work being done?

I will probably go direct to the landlord and say they really need to fix this, but thought I'd ask on here first :beer:

Thanks!

G_M

It's clearly a repairing issue. Landlord's responsibility. Have you written formally to the landlord (I'm assuming you are a tenant yes?)


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

lookstraightahead

What GM said.

diggingdude

If it goes on too long suggest they release you from the contract or compensate you

Norman_Castle

The property manager claims there's nothing he can really do as its significant work to the kitchen.

They can do it but it may be significant work which isn't your problem. The sink clearly used to work and will be cleared at some point in the future.

Bizzare response from a property manager.

foxy-stoat

Did the plumber actually work out what was wrong?

If its the external foul pipe thats blocked there will be no work required in the kitchen.

xylophone

Have the drains rodded?

G_M

xylophone wrote: »

Have the drains rodded?

The OP didn't say they had. But you never know.

xylophone

The OP didn't say they had. But you never know.

I recall a family member having trouble with the kitchen sink - the water did flow away but flooding was noticed at the drain outside the kitchen.

The problem was further along the pipe run (partial blockage) and rodding solved it.

agrinnall

G_M wrote: »

The OP didn't say they had. But you never know.

I think it was a suggestion rather than a question (with perhaps a word missing) to the OP, although the presence of the question mark does make it uncertain.

lincroft1710

The kitchen sink would appear to work perfectly. What doesn't work is the drainage system. Either rodding or if that does not work then a camera into the drains should show the cause of the blockage. Unless a drain has collapsed it should not be too financially onerous for the LL