Tenants without shower for 3 days

Omnitude

I'm just wondering if there's anything we can do regarding the following problem.

Live in a three bed with one bathroom (shower and toilet) on first floor and then an ensuite shower in the attic room.


Landlord told us a few weeks ago but him redoing the first floor bathroom this week and told us the shower would unusable for three days ( toilet fine). This was okay with us as we planned to use the upstairs shower.

About three weeks ago the upstairs shower started leaking down the ceiling. Landlord told the attic room owner to use the downstairs shower in the mean time. He came a week and a half ago to try and fix it but didn't complete it.

Now he's said the 1st floor shower works will still be carried out as well and they will try to fix the attic shower a well but not a definite.

We've explained that if works go ahead we will be left without any sort of shower/bath. But he just keep saying the work can't be changed . I appreciate he already made the booking but this was all booked assuming we'd all shower in the attic when needed


Surely it is illegal to leave us without any sort of place to wash ourselves? Would appreciate any advice please

jackomdj

It is three days. Not even that as you could shower on the morning of the first day and evening of the third. What would you do in a house with only one bathroom, it would never be possible to redo the bathroom.

Personally I would live with it and only worry if it takes longer, but if it does there are ways around it, like friends or using a gym or work shower. Not ideal, but not a big deal.

G_M

If you are unhappy about the arrangement (bear in mind 3 days may become 4.... or 5.... jobs often over-run) then write and say so!


It's your home. You agree or otherwise to what happens.Of course, repairing is part of the LL's obligations and you need to facilitate this but it seems the ensuite is a repairing issue, which needs doing, whereas the bathroom is an 'improvement' which you could get delayed, or cancellerd (if you wish).


Write to the LL, at the address provided.

00ec25

Omnitude wrote: »

Surely it is illegal to leave us without any sort of place to wash ourselves?

you can wash. Your problem is that you have first world expectations of what "washing" means - no it is not "illegal" to ask you to use the kitchen sink to wash for a short time

Marvel1

Use the sink.

Omnitude

G_M wrote: »

If you are unhappy about the arrangement (bear in mind 3 days may become 4.... or 5.... jobs often over-run) then write and say so!


It's your home. You agree or otherwise to what happens.Of course, repairing is part of the LL's obligations and you need to facilitate this but it seems the ensuite is a repairing issue, which needs doing, whereas the bathroom is an 'improvement' which you could get delayed, or cancellerd (if you wish).


Write to the LL, at the address provided.

Thanks for you reply. I think the other two replies are missing the point. We were happy to have the main shower done as we could use attic room mates instead. However this is now leaking, which the LL was told about ages ago and told us to use the main shower instead. Which will be out of action now.

I found the following on some housing website but not sure of it applies?

"The landlord has to provide you with running water and sanitation facilities to use it. You need to have a working toilet and a shower or a bathroom. You need to have at least one sink where you can do dishes and wash up. These facilities can come in unconventional interior layout, but they must be present or your landlord breaks the law."

HampshireH

Not illegal no. You could fill a sink & wash for a few days.

Omnitude

00ec25 wrote: »

you can wash. Your problem is that you have first world expectations of what "washing" means - no it is not "illegal" to ask you to use the kitchen sink to wash for a short time

Illegal in the sense that it goes against the Landlord and Tenants Act 1985. 'First world expectations' you mentioned are irrelevant to the point.

PasturesNew

If you walk into any antique shop there's a big bowl and a jug displayed on a table somewhere.... for 1000 years that's pretty much what people used to wash themselves and their hair with.

In addition to a bucket/jug, these days you've also got an array of cleansing wipes and all sorts + options on asking a friend, using the swimming pool or a gym for a day or so.

3 days ... annoying, but you won't die.

Get a bucket/jug and just wipe your bits and pieces with a flannel or wet wipes. Unless you're a coal miner, there's very little of the body that would actually get dirty/stink in such a short period of time... just concentrate on the small areas you think smell iffy

rach_k

Ask whoever is doing it to fix the attic shower first. It might be a quick fix or something fairly simple like redoing sealant that won't take more than a day.

Wash at the kitchen sink or take a washing up bowl or bucket of water to your bedroom in the meantime. Stand on a bath mat or towel while you have a wash. It's not a big deal, really it's not.

Friday1989

I'd say 3 days is reasonable. If my shower broke in my last flat I would have had a heart attack if my landlord sent someone out in 3 days!

This isn't based on anything but this is how I think about repairs based on what I would consider reasonable if I owned my own home:
Broken boiler in winter with no electric heaters, water pouring from the ceiling, no water, no electricity= emergency. 24 hours to get someone out but it might not be possible to fix it in 24 hours.
Boiler broken with electric heaters, no hot water but cold water, no shower/bath= non-urgent. I'd say 3-7 days is reasonable.