Landlord problems - should I pay?

MoneyJess

Please help!
I recently (stupidly) left a tap on in our kitchen and damaged some appliances in the flat downstairs as the water went through. The landlord is now telling me that I have to pay to replace a cooker and washing machine, and also for all call out fees. Surely this should be covered in landlords' insurance? I would have thought that accidental damage is a standard risk in being a landlord. I presume I can't stop him taking my damage deposit when I leave, but am I going to have to pay this extra amount?? I have only just got my debts under control and now the thought of having to pay what I presume will be over £1000 for a stupid mistake is really troubling me. Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks

jo1967

The Landlord is only responsible for building insurance - you should have contents insurance which you would be able to claim on.

Think about it who would be a Landlord if you had to pay for tenants damage all the time, paticularly as it was your fault?! I'm not having a go - leaving a tap on was daft but it happens - thats what insurance is for!

barnaby-bear

MoneyJess wrote: »

Please help!
I recently (stupidly) left a tap on in our kitchen and damaged some appliances in the flat downstairs as the water went through. The landlord is now telling me that I have to pay to replace a cooker and washing machine, and also for all call out fees. Surely this should be covered in landlords' insurance? I would have thought that accidental damage is a standard risk in being a landlord. I presume I can't stop him taking my damage deposit when I leave, but am I going to have to pay this extra amount?? I have only just got my debts under control and now the thought of having to pay what I presume will be over £1000 for a stupid mistake is really troubling me. Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks

Even if it was covered on the LLs insurance I assume they'd claim it back from the party who caused the damage plus fees i.e. you. It maybe covered by YOUR insurance but damage is usually paid for by the insurance of the person damaging stuff. If you drove your car into a shop they'd claim off your car insurance not the shop's buildings insurance and if they did claim of the shop's insurance the insurer would then claim it off the car driver's insurance.

moneysavinmonkey

as the flood was caused by your own (accidental) fault and not due to fault of the landlord or their appliance or fixtures then it wouldn't be covered by the landlord insurance. I'm presuming the flood was entirely your fault and not caused by fault tap or blocked overflow etc.


Your tenants (contents) insurance should cover you for your own belongings as well as the damage to the landlord + neighbours property.

If you don't have this insurance :eek: and can't pay the landlord they will certainly keep your damage deposit + are fully entitled to pursue you for any amount due over this amount... through small claims court if necessary.

Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear. If there are any other circumstances then let us know so we can try to help.

MoneyJess

Thanks for all replies. I'm also concerned about whether all this damage that they're claiming actually happened. They are saying that the cooker and washing machine stopped working after three days - surely then this was caused by water in the wall that has fused the electrics, which wouldn't call for a replacement. I know that this isn't an electricians forum, but I am just concerned that if I do end up paying, it's legit. Surely cookers and washing machines are designed to cope if they get water on them (and we're not talking about water dripping through the ceiling here - it was a few minutes of water seeping through the walls). Is it worth getting my own independent contractor to check it out? Sorry for veering off the money subject slightly, but I'm keen to hold on to my pennies!

barnaby-bear

MoneyJess wrote: »

Thanks for all replies. I'm also concerned about whether all this damage that they're claiming actually happened. They are saying that the cooker and washing machine stopped working after three days - surely then this was caused by water in the wall that has fused the electrics, which wouldn't call for a replacement. I know that this isn't an electricians forum, but I am just concerned that if I do end up paying, it's legit. Surely cookers and washing machines are designed to cope if they get water on them (and we're not talking about water dripping through the ceiling here - it was a few minutes of water seeping through the walls). Is it worth getting my own independent contractor to check it out? Sorry for veering off the money subject slightly, but I'm keen to hold on to my pennies!

Claim it under your third party clauses in your contents insurance, they'll send an assessor out who will assess the claims legitimacy if you tell them it's suspect. The excess is likely to be far less than the claim I don't get why you don't want to claim off your own insurance?

daisykinn1

Do not hand over any money. Ask him for at least 3 quotes to see what the actual cost will be. Your deposit will probably cover it as it doesn't sound like much water actually leaked through.

Rick62

IMHO it is highly unlikely that even a large leek would break a cooker or washing machine. The worst you would expect is that the fuse would blow (about 99p for 3) and they would need to be left to dry for a couple of days. I think your landlord is trying it on.

MoneyJess

OK, and here's the bad bit, I haven't got contents insurance. I (naively)assumed that, as the flat is fully furnished, the contents that belong to the landlord are covered by his insurance. I decided that I was willing to take the risk with my own belongings. As it looks like I will have to pay if the claim is seen to be legitimate, I'm now more concerned about said legitimacy...

daisykinn1

MoneyJess wrote: »

OK, and here's the bad bit, I haven't got contents insurance. I (naively)assumed that, as the flat is fully furnished, the contents that belong to the landlord are covered by his insurance. I decided that I was willing to take the risk with my own belongings. As it looks like I will have to pay if the claim is seen to be legitimate, I'm now more concerned about said legitimacy...

Just say you want to see the damage. If he's just screwing you over he will quickly crawl back into his hole!

moneysavinmonkey

Rick62 wrote: »

IMHO it is highly unlikely that even a large leek would break a cooker or washing machine. The worst you would expect is that the fuse would blow (about 99p for 3) and they would need to be left to dry for a couple of days. I think your landlord is trying it on.

PMLOL!!!

I don't know those giant leeks can be fairly vicious you know - particularly if they've been genetically modified!!

as for water leaks I don't know.