Leaking bathtub how to find a plumber?

Gary_Laurus

Hi all ,
Just received a message from my tenant about a complain from the flat right below mine.
Apparently water is  leaking below the bathtub and seeping through to the flat below.
Bit stumped by this one! As I am stuck 1000s of miles away from the UK

1. What are the best practices for finding a reliable + affordable plumber?
2.  Is it possible to find a plumber without a call out fee?
3. Should the building/flat management company be contacted? Are they responsible for fixing this?
Best regards & Thanks in advance
Lz

AdrianC

No, the building managers are not responsible for your bath leaking.

Do you not have a management agent in the UK?
Are you registered in the non-resident landlord scheme, or does your tenant withhold tax and pay it on your behalf?

[Deleted User]

Gary_Laurus said:

Hi all ,
Just received a message from my tenant about a complain from the flat right below mine.
Apparently water is  leaking below the bathtub and seeping through to the flat below.
Bit stumped by this one! As I am stuck 1000s of miles away from the UK

1. What are the best practices for finding a reliable + affordable plumber?
2.  Is it possible to find a plumber without a call out fee?
3. Should the building/flat management company be contacted? Are they responsible for fixing this?
Best regards & Thanks in advance
Lz

Can your tenant be more specific. Is the leak from the bath taps, waste, a shower or where silicon sealant has deteriorated? Realistically you will pay for this as you want a quick service but just do it.

gozaimasu

This is probably a very easy fix that will end up costing you loads because you are so far away. If you know anyone in the UK then I'd get them to come round and take a look under the bath panel. The first issue to locate the source of the leak and it will be under the bath panel that you can see what's happening. If you can't see what's happening there, then it will be a plumbing leak under the floorboards, which will probably need a plumber.

Gary_Laurus

[Deleted User] said:

Gary_Laurus said:

Hi all ,
Just received a message from my tenant about a complain from the flat right below mine.
Apparently water is  leaking below the bathtub and seeping through to the flat below.
Bit stumped by this one! As I am stuck 1000s of miles away from the UK

1. What are the best practices for finding a reliable + affordable plumber?
2.  Is it possible to find a plumber without a call out fee?
3. Should the building/flat management company be contacted? Are they responsible for fixing this?
Best regards & Thanks in advance
Lz

Can your tenant be more specific. Is the leak from the bath taps, waste, a shower or where silicon sealant has deteriorated? Realistically you will pay for this as you want a quick service but just do it.

Thanks for the useful response,I will ask them again. since they did not mention this before the occupant downstairs complained it's probably leaking from under the tub

gozaimasu

That's another thing to consider - the water could be leaking in from outside after our recent heavy rain! Don't rely on what the people downstairs say about where it's coming from! They might just have (wrongly) assumed if from your tenant's bathtub when it's not at all.

GDB2222

There are a whole host of websites designed to help you find a plumber. It's a bit hit and miss whether they are any good or not. 

Try https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/

[Deleted User]

gozaimasu said:

That's another thing to consider - the water could be leaking in from outside after our recent heavy rain! Don't rely on what the people downstairs say about where it's coming from! They might just have (wrongly) assumed if from your tenant's bathtub when it's not at all.

This is true. 50/50 chance the problem isnt related to OPs bath.

Gary_Laurus

gozaimasu said:

This is probably a very easy fix that will end up costing you loads because you are so far away. If you know anyone in the UK then I'd get them to come round and take a look under the bath panel. The first issue to locate the source of the leak and it will be under the bath panel that you can see what's happening. If you can't see what's happening there, then it will be a plumbing leak under the floorboards, which will probably need a plumber.

Thanks for the useful response,I will try to get someone to visit

Gary_Laurus

GDB2222 said:

There are a whole host of websites designed to help you find a plumber. It's a bit hit and miss whether they are any good or not. 

Try https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/

Thank you very much contacted quite a few plumbers! fingers crossed

Soot2006

Another tip for the future is to join the local facebook group for wherever your property is.  I've had way more luck with affordable local contractors when putting "wanting" post with a description of the problem.