Plumber caused damage to my ceiling and it fell!

Smodlet

Linton wrote: »

- If the OP claimed for the computers on his contents insurance they would be replaced quickly and he would not have to wait for the insurance companies to fight things out.
- If the OP claimed off the landlord he would only be entitled to the value of the used, possibly old, equipment which could be virtually zero. By claiming off his own contents insurance he probably has new for old cover.

... Assuming he has accidental damage coverage... IMHO, if you don't own the building, you should not have to pay or suffer for any damage caused by its failure; in practice, you probably do because everything is geared in favour of the privileged.

shinytop

I claimed for a damaged computer nearly 5 years ago and it has made my home insurance premiums 20-30 quid more each year as a direct result. I agree contents insurance sounds like the right answer here but it's not without consequences.

buggy_boy

Smodlet wrote: »

You are being ridiculous. As AdrianC said, without pictures we have no idea of the context of the situation; it may be entirely habitable, it may not be.

I still do not see why tenants should not be compensated for having to live in a property in a materially worse condition than it was when they signed the tenancy agreement. It is not the same as home ownership; you are paying for something in at least as good a condition as when you rented it excepting damage you cause yourself.

Yes, claiming on contents insurance may be the "quickest" solution but I still fail to see why tenants should suffer any financial loss for a problem caused by something for which their LL is liable. Just because some LL's might offer to pay the excess does not mean the OP's will and does not begin to address the increase in premiums a claim will cause.

I would not expect a bit of ceiling falling down to make the property uninhabitable, it should be pretty easy to repair or at least screw a board on the ceiling as a temporary fix. I would agree with compensation if the landlord was negligent for example taking too long or not doing repairs however you pay rent to occupy the property...

If the property were not habitable then yes I would expect the landlord to pay for alternative accommodation although this is likely to be claim against buildings landlord insurance.

There may be an increase in your premiums but if you have ever had car insurance you will know if someone drives into your car and you claim off their insurance your insurance premiums go up, I know it seems crazy but according to their stats claiming on someone else's insurance for an accident that was not your fault increases the chances of you claiming on your insurance... I don't pretend to understand why that would be the case but thats life.

buggy_boy

Smodlet wrote: »

... Assuming he has accidental damage coverage... IMHO, if you don't own the building, you should not have to pay or suffer for any damage caused by its failure; in practice, you probably do because everything is geared in favour of the privileged.

Thats such a leftist attitude, sometimes you have to just accept accidents happen and its sometimes nobodies actual fault, to cover yourself you have insurance..

Who are the privileged? am I privileged because im a landlord because I worked 90+ hrs per week for a decade, did not spend my money on holidays or fancy cars and invested in property instead?

Its such a relative theory, compared to people in 3rd world countries we are all privileged.

Its the lefty view of everyone else should pay more but I shouldn't and it's never my fault, I should not be responsible for anything.

Smodlet

buggy_boy wrote: »

Thats such a leftist attitude, sometimes you have to just accept accidents happen and its sometimes nobodies actual fault, to cover yourself you have insurance..

Who are the privileged? am I privileged because im a landlord because I worked 90+ hrs per week for a decade, did not spend my money on holidays or fancy cars and invested in property instead?

Its such a relative theory, compared to people in 3rd world countries we are all privileged.

Its the lefty view of everyone else should pay more but I shouldn't and it's never my fault, I should not be responsible for anything.

Why on earth do you think "lefty" is an insult? You chose to work whatever hours, yadda, yadda because you wanted money. Why should anyone feel sorry for you?

I stipulated tenants should not be out of pocket through increased premiums/whatever for faults in a building they do not own; I stand by that. Not that it's any of your business but I own my home outright and accept all the responsibilities inherent therein.

HampshireH

Assume the ceiling is just plasterboard and not decorated with asbestos textured coating/artex.

The clear up of the above should really be done properly if applicable. Despite the very low associated risk.

Contents insurance definitely the route. You could claim from the plumber but if would be long winded and stressful and quite probably fruitless.

Your landlord needs to consider the insulation. Has that been saturated too? If so that probably needs replacing as well. No point putting a new ceiling up under wet insulation.

Chickenlips

Each person is responsible for insuring their own financial interests. The landlord has no financial interest in the tenants belongings, their insurer will not pay for them. Going through court could be a long way to the same conclusion.

Alternative accommodation: this depends on the tenancy agreement. If it states rent is returned when the property is destroyed, rent will be returned and the tenant will need to find their own accommodation.

mimiduck

Tenants are liable for their possessions - claim on your contents cover. Yes your premium will go up but you can't really do anything about that

I would however ask a copy of a report once a contractor has been to assess the cause of the damage and for the contractor to confirm that property is safe, again in writing.

Landlord would be of course doing the repair to the property. Up to him how he finds that.

Someone did mention asbestos - please check whether it is applicable in your property OP.

mimiduck

To add - if only the ceiling is affected and LL gets a contractor to clear debris and make sure the property is safe then property is habitable

davemorton

chunkytfg wrote: »

Has anyone noticed that coincidence that 2 leaks in separate rooms happen to both drip onto computers?!

I was more shocked that he never woke up before his sister started shouting for him.

wrote:

Fast forward to 1am, I was fully asleep and due to go to work at 4am. I hear my sister screaming my name, so I jump up as I thought something happened to her or my dog. As I got up and ran to the door I noticed my ceiling had crashed onto my desk and towards my door.
Had I not gone to sleep due to work, at 1am I am usually at my desk, it would have landed on me.

The damage was enough to knock all my shelves and my monitor and take roughly a 2meter by 1.5 meter chunk of the ceiling down.