Burst Pipe, Landlord wont pay

ThisIsWeird

stekell said:

Hi, 
Just need to rant really because I know I will end up paying, On Sunday morning a pipe burst under the sink, luckily I was sat in the next room and heard it and instantly turned the water off. The leak was still trickling and couldn't fit a large bowl under the pipe, I instantly reported though an online app the agency uses. I have a list of contractors I got when I moved in they are the agencies contractors. I contacted the plumber who talked me though how to get it to stop dripping and arranged to come the next morning he does work for the letting agency. He came Monday morning and fixed it in no time. At lunch time Monday the agency phoned me I explained what had happened and I explained its fixed, they said good glad its solved. Then today Friday I get a phone call the landlord is refusing to pay the invoice because I'm not supposed to contact the contractor myself and she has her own contractors. So they have asked me to pay £125. Feels really unfair to me I can afford the £125 but its not the point, really disappointed in the landlord we have hardly reported any faults in the 6 years we have lived there only when the hot water went off. Anyway rant over feel a little better.

Hi Stekell.
Astonishing meanness by the LL.
Can you confirm - you did two things on finding the leak; one was to report it to the LL/agency via their App, and the other was to contact a plumber from a list you were given?
For the former, is that what you are 'supposed' to do - Ie only report via the App, and then sit back and wait?! If so, did they come back to you, and how long did this take?
In other words, had you also not directly contacted this plumber, but instead waited for the App response, how long would the pipe have been dribbling for?
As you say, you do not want to rock t'boat, and you realise you have a decent rent rate, and you are fortunate in being able to pay this bill. So, in your situation, I reckon I'd do the same as you. But I'd rub the LL's nose in it a bit by pointing out the facts of what took place, the time they took to respond, and the potential extra damage that could have been caused had you not acted as you did. Add that you'd therefore welcome a contribution towards the invoice as you still believe you acted in the best interest of the LL, and request clarification on what to do next time; App, sit, wait, or be pro-active

Herzlos

You can always ask the landlord to clarify that in future you should leave the pipe dripping until they send their plumber round to deal with it. Because you don't want to be punished for doing the right thing next time.

GDB2222

If the landlord has their own plumber, is the LL prepared to pay what that plumber would have charged? 

Brie

Schwarzwald said:

Brie said:

I'm assuming the £125 is the plumber's invoice.  Not recommending it but if she wants you to pay it I'd be tempted to deduct that amount from the next rent payment.  

Rent and maintenance costs are two separate items. V Surprised to see this suggestion ....

Did say I wasn't recommending it.  Quite agree it should be separate.