Landlord said my issue is 'unfixable'

Alt0id

I started renting a 2nd floor flat in a block of 5 flats a few months ago and have had problems with the water pressure since moving in. Sometimes, not always, the taps will stop running completely with no water coming out at all, nor will the toilet flush when this happens.

The shower also starts warm but the warm water only lasts a minute or two before going ice cold, which is my main concern. I told the landlord and he said this is down to my water supplier and there is nothing to fix on his end. What I want to know is, is that true? Is there nothing the landlord can do about these issues if my water supplier tells me that the checks on their end are fine and nothing is wrong with their supply or the stop tap? 

gwynlas

We can speculate on this forum but you would gain better answers by speaking directly to the water company and asking if your neighbours have the same issues. It is very unlikely that there is no fix available as lack of water is unsanitary.

Alt0id

gwynlas said:

We can speculate on this forum but you would gain better answers by speaking directly to the water company and asking if your neighbours have the same issues. It is very unlikely that there is no fix available as lack of water is unsanitary.

I did speak to the water company and they said they're running checks and that if they're fine then it's an issue for the landlord, but the landlord told me that there's nothing for him to fix, despite the water company telling me he'd have to hire a plumber or something. The landlord just says that because it's winter and because there's 5 flats in the block, that my cold shower is unfixable and that there is nothing he can do

diystarter7

Hi OP

Have you researched a high-pressure shower head?

Also from memory and I may be wrong, certain shower can work well with low pressure as often found in blocks of flats.

I can't recall 100% if a gadget can be used to up the pressure but I vaguely recall someone telling me that years ago


Do a bit of research on the net and hopefully a plumber on this site may be able to help with precise details

As above poster said, ask around in your block, ideally same floor first.

So do your research and put it to the LL if appropriate.

Good luck

sevenhills

Is the shower issue also caused by low water pressure, so that would be down to your water supplier.
But is it related to being in a block of flats, talk to your neighbors. Perhaps the issue could be raised with the flats owner, if different from your landlord.

DullGreyGuy

What have your neighbours on your floor said about their water pressure?
How is the water for the shower heated? Electric shower? Gas boiler? Electric cylinder? 

theartfullodger

Suggest you write a calm polite letter to landlord, copy any agent, copy council regarding issues with hygiene & water supply using the draft in this link.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord

Clearly the landlord could chose to put in a system that pumps water supply to a tank etc etc so his statement that the problem is unfixable is a lie, albeit it my be  complicated, expensive, take time. 

But getting him to fix things may take ages, if ever , so sadly suggest move elsewhere.. A wise & prudent landlord would permit you to break any contract early.

Yes, discuss with neighbours.. 

Such a shame there is no regular practice of prospective tenants requiring references from previous tenants regarding the property, landlord etc etc.,    Just as legal as the very common practice of landlords requiring references from previous landlords regarding the tenant....

Artful: Landlord since 2000

user1977

theartfullodger said:

Clearly the landlord could chose to put in a system that pumps water supply to a tank etc etc so his statement that the problem is unfixable is a lie, albeit it my be  complicated, expensive, take time. 

That's more likely if the landlord owns the whole building, which isn't clear from what we've been told so far. If they only own this flat, it's unlikely they can insist on such an improvement being put in place.

Section62

user1977 said:

theartfullodger said:

Clearly the landlord could chose to put in a system that pumps water supply to a tank etc etc so his statement that the problem is unfixable is a lie, albeit it my be  complicated, expensive, take time. 

That's more likely if the landlord owns the whole building, which isn't clear from what we've been told so far. If they only own this flat, it's unlikely they can insist on such an improvement being put in place.

Agreed, and the fact the "taps will stop running completely with no water coming out at all" points strongly towards the possibility that the building already has a pumped booster system which isn't working as it should.

If the building was purely mains supplied then you may expect fluctuations in flow/pressure, but to have no water whatsoever on the second floor would be a rare event - e.g. a burst main in the neighbourhood, or in the summer when everyone is using hosepipes.

propertyrental

* Does the LL own the building or just your flat? If the latter, is there a management company or freeholder for the building?
* How is the shower heated? An electric shower on the wall? Water supplied how eg mains water or from a tank somewhere?
* or does the hot water for the shower come from a hot water cylinder (heated by a boiler)?
* do you have the instruction manual for the shower(it'll be available online...)
* some showers are designed for mains pressure, some for low pressure - mix/match them wrong they won't work.
* but if the loo cistern does not always refill that does suggest an issue with either the mains pressure (assuming it's supplied from the mains),or supply from a tank (if there is one).
* if there IS a water tank (in loft?) is it shared? Maybe when several flat occupants all use water at the same time the tank empties and does not re-fill fast enough. Very poor design which could be fixed by a bigger tank!

Jonboy_1984

Where are the hot and cold water tanks for your property situated? Can you supply photos?

In our last flat the cold water tank was directly above the hot in our airing cupboard. It was gravity between the two that provided the hot water pressure and as there was very little difference the water pressure was poor.
The more hot we ran in one go, the less the difference between the top cold water level and top hot level and worse it became until the cold tank refilled and restored the height. 

The flat above ours had their hot tank on the floor of their flat and the cold water tank in the loft space, so had much better pressure as the extra 1 to 1.5m in height doubled the gravity effect.

The only real cures for the above would have been to replace the hot tank with a direct unvented cylinder which means the cold tank is not required and the hot is fed off the mains at mains pressure, or fitting a shower pump which would potentially be noisy in a block of flats if not mounted correctly.



If the shower is electric then you need to work out if it fed off the rising main (as should your kitchen tap cold be) or fed off any cold water tank ( which could be worst if the cold water tank is level with the shower head). If you turn off the main water supply into the flat does the shower run at all?

If it is an electric shower does it do the same on high and eco mode?