To want to agents to just call a f**king plumber??

[RevoltingPeasant]

Probably really minor ishoo, but:

On 6th Nov the pipe from the bath started leaking when the bath was draining and water came down through the kitchen ceiling.

I contacted the agents who manage our property and told them. They said they'd send a plumber out and I should not use the bath.

They still haven't sent anyone. Apparently the plumber is 'busy with emergencies' . It is cold out and I really want a bath. AIBU to go down to their offices tomorrow and have a massive rant at them?

[MerrilyDefective]

What, you haven't had a bath since 6th November?Do you have a seperate shower?
If not that's awful.
Withhold your rent until it's fixed.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Hey Defective, yeah I do have a shower, that's why I feel like I might be being a bit of a princess.

When you say I haven't had a bath for a month... I'm not that revolting

But it's coooold and I want a baaaath (etc)

[Kaloki]

That's a long time without a repair! Talk to CAB about witholding rent and/or paying for a plumber and taking it out of the rent

[MrManager]

Other people not getting hot water come before you're not being able to take a bath. Plumbers get busy.

Keep pestering them, and start dropping hints about 'reduced rent this month'.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Hey Mister, yeah I know other people need hot water -- but this guy can't be the only plumber in the city, right? If he's that busy can't they just get someone else?

Will check CAB after the weekend if it's still going on... thanks.

[plupervert]

Gah. Letting agents look down on tenants peasant farmers, didn't you know?

Keep up the pressure! You are paying for something which you cannot enjoy. If it were your own house and therefore your own responsibility, you would know what the plumbers had actually said, whether it could be expedited by paying a bit more, etc. Annoying to have the choice taken away from you.

[SandStorm]

Don't know about the legalities so take this with a pinch of salt but can you tell your agents that if they haven't got a plumber out to you by XX then you'll arrange it yourself and take the bill off next month's rent?

[sb6699]

The procedure is that you obtain 3 quotes, show them to the letting agent and if they still dont call anyone you are allowed to go ahead with the lowest quote and deduct the amount from the rent.

You have to allow "reasonable" time for them to carry out the repair but I think you have already!

There have been loads of these threads recently and having had problems with my own LL with him leaving us in freezing temperatures with no heating or hot water I am really at a loss to find these "good" LL's some posters insist are out there.

[MerrilyDefective]

There ARE good LLs and agents out there.
We have very good agents who organise plumbers for pretty much the next day and they have been known to arrive the same day.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Thanks all. Will give them till Monday and then threaten them with the multiple quotations business...

[BrandyButterPie]

Ooh, do you have a link for the multiple quotations thing? We're just going to have to accept that we might get evicted (lls only have to give two months notice and no reason on most tenancies) but we have been without an oven now for months and at least that two months notice would take us over Christmas.

[RevoltingPeasant]

BrandyButter, I don't have a link but the other poster who suggested it might. I think it's prob more like general practice, though.

You might try googling the Landlords & Tenants Act section 11--I think that has some info in.

[sb6699]

Sorry I dont have a link. I got the information when I phoned Shelter after the LL refused to phone us a heating engineer leaving us with no heating or hot water.

You do have to follow the correct procedure otherwise you are in breach of tenancy so I would recommend you give them a call as obviously I'm not an expert.