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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is a crisis?

24 replies

TiredTenant · 16/12/2013 15:17

You can blame any overreaction on my fever and stomach infection, but I think I have a crisis on my hands.

You may have noticed that it's getting cold. You may also be aware that most people like to have hot showers at this time of the year.

My building has had lukewarm to cold water running since over 15 days. I thought it was a minor blip and would sort itself out. Since that hasn't happened I called my landlord up today and asked him what was wrong.
Apparently, the boiler and pipe system in the building has conked it and we're all sharing the ridiculously little amount of hot water that comes out of what he described as his "emergency boiler".

He suggested I take my shower at 2 am [skeptical] because that's when the water might be hot. I replied that I've already tried it and it doesn't work. Only on some days we might have hot water in the early mornings, but otherwise not.

I was quite upset and I told him that it was ridiculous to not have hot water during December and January! I asked him for an estimate as to when this nightmare will be sorted out and he replied that he has no idea because the company has to do the needful (he works on behalf of a letting agency).

I feel disgusting without showers and I am a freak who washes hair every alternate day. I cannot live without taking a shower for an indefinite period of time. I also have a tendency to catch cold quite easily to so taking cold showers in this weather is not a good option either. :(

I think he sensed that I was on the verge of a breakdown and that's when he came up with the following idea. I could shower in the building next door (which is also managed by him) in one of his empty flats. So I should carry my toiletries to the next building, take a shower in a flat that is probably freezing because it hasn't been used in a while and then trot out back into the cold with wet hair to come to my own place.

I pay a good amount of rent for this flat and I don't understand how he can be so nonchalant about this.

Any suggestions? I don't want to start a fight with him because I need a landlord's reference as I am moving out next year.

Any tricks you have to warm up water? Portable water heaters???

Note: Please don't suggest dry shampoo.

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 16/12/2013 15:21

Sorry you are in this situation. Could get 3 quotes for the repair by someone else and present the quotes to him and ask to pay.An indefinite timescale is not on.

Original poster

TiredTenant · 16/12/2013 15:32

I would do that if this problem was specific to my flat. Unfortunately, there is an issue with the boiler that heats water for the entire building. I don't have the authority to have it repaired myself :(

OP posts:

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 16/12/2013 15:35

Firstly cold water won't make you catch cold.

Secondly, he has to fix the issue. There is no waiting around. What about fitting a power shower in your place?

scurryfunge · 16/12/2013 15:37

Could you gather all the residents that are affected and collectively go to him and harangue him all together? If you do end up using the next door empty flat then insists the flat's heating is also on at his expense.

theeternalstudent · 16/12/2013 15:37

I could be wrong but isn't there rules regarding hot water and heating? Worth getting some advice about - I'm sure he can't leave you that long without water. My landlord was in a panic the last time we were without water and heating because after a certain amount of time I'm sure we could start deducting from rent (Scottish Law?)

It really isn't good enough to leave you like this. I would be furious too!

Original poster

TiredTenant · 16/12/2013 15:42

I know that a lot of people insist that cold water doesn't make you catch cold, but unfortunately that isn't the case with me. I have some medical issues since childhood which make things a bit complicated and every time I have taken a cold shower, I have ended up with either a low fever or a body ache. That aside, it's a bit inhuman to expect someone to shower with cold water when it's already so cold outside and when they're paying good money for the hot water.

I am not aware of any rules regarding hot water and heating, but I'll look into it.

I don't know if I can get everyone to collectively harangue the landlord because we barely know each other and frankly a lot of my neighbours are quite unhelpful. I will think about it, though.

Can someone tell me more about power showers? How much do they cost, how to install them etc.?

OP posts:

gobbynorthernbird · 16/12/2013 15:46

You may want to point out to the LL that lukewarm water is a great breeding ground for the bacteria that cause Legionnaires disease.

IamInvisible · 16/12/2013 15:48

Have you got an immersion heater?

You could buy some electric heaters to tide you over.

He has offered you a solution to the shower problem. It is not that much of a hardship to walk next door for a shower, surely?

theeternalstudent · 16/12/2013 15:52

Here's some basic information on rights and responsibilities:
www.gov.uk/private-renting/repairs

HoHoHopasholic · 16/12/2013 15:53

See if you can get a free trial at a gym and use theirs?

Ladyglamalot · 16/12/2013 15:57

Your landlord must fix this and I would be seeking some legal advice from Cab or similiar agency but you really do not catch colds from cold water no matter what your health issues!

MelanieCheeks · 16/12/2013 15:59

It wouldn't be my definition of a crisis, but the situation is clearly unsatisfactory, especially with an unspecific resolution date.

Meantime - find a shower you can use somehwere, either the gym, the flat next door, a friend or relative nearby. Yes that's far from ideal but it's a coping strategy for a hopefully short time.

desperateforaholiday · 16/12/2013 16:01

Could you get him to install electric showers, they only need cold water.

StarSwirl92 · 16/12/2013 16:01

go swimming?

StarSwirl92 · 16/12/2013 16:02

go swimming?

poshme · 16/12/2013 16:05

For a while in my old house our boiler conked out & we had no hot water at all for about a month. I perfected hair wash, condition & body wash using a combo of a full boiled kettle, a cold shower & a bowl. Not pleasant, but doable- esp if you can use 2 kettle fulls.
But I would push your landlord again.

Laquitar · 16/12/2013 16:07

I too think that there are rules regarding hot water and heating. I remember when i was renting and there was a problem with the heating if it wasnt solved in two days then the landlord was deducting the rent for the days that i didnt have hot water and heating.

To me it does sound a hardship having to go to another building ffor a shower, especially if that flat is cold.
I would prefer to boil water and use a pladtic jar to pour water over me to wash.

Can you check how many flats in the building are rented and speak to the other tenants?

The gym idea is good!

BackforGood · 16/12/2013 16:16

Agree with MelanieCheeks - Yes, YABU to think this is a crisis.

However, it's not a satisfactory situation so you should take advice from the other posters, but there's no need to be dramatic about it, people manage without showers in their lives, you know.

PorkPieandPickle · 16/12/2013 16:17

Contact your local authority environmental health department. They have enforcement powers in relation to this.

Blithereens · 16/12/2013 16:18

This happened to me and I said, "Okay, but no rent until it's fixed." It was in our contract to have adequate access to heating and hot water, and as long as we didn't have it, they were in breach. Check your contract. If it says similar, you are perfectly within your rights to withhold rent, under the Landlords and Tenants act. It didn't cause any problems with getting a reference when we moved.

EveningCalls · 16/12/2013 16:20

Of course ll needs to fix this asap but i actually think his offer of using a nearby flat in the meantime is a good one.

I can't go 24hrs without washing my hair but will do it over the sink after boiling a kettle if i need to. Same with washing

EatriskierDrinkAndBeMerry · 16/12/2013 16:22

It certainly used to be the case that you could deduct rent for the time you had no hot water/heating. I've gotten council support on this before and it wasn't until we wrote to the landlord stating we were going to not pay full rent until it was fixed that they actually did something. However this was years ago.

You need to talk to your local council's environmental health department and they can give you advice on rent deduction/enforcing repairs etc.

SummerRain · 16/12/2013 16:24

Shower next door but don't wash your hair. Wash your hair with jugs of warm water (half boiling and half tap) over the sink.

We're frequently without a shower as the letting agency keeps installing cheapass electric showers that break after a year. We often have to sponge ourselves down with a basin in front of the fire.

It's not ideal but it'll help you cope until it's sorted.

yourusername123456789 · 16/12/2013 16:38

I assume the other flat has no electric running to it? If it does I would use their shower and take your hairdryer with you, personally the cold part wouldn't bother me as I don't heat my house in the morning, if you come straight out the shower and change in the bathroom then go to dry your hair, you'll not really notice.

What about water for your dishes? is that cold too? This would irritate me.

In the long-term though I would not be buying anything, I would speak to citizen's advice for advice on how long he can do this for and if you can bill him for anything you need to purchase. Maybe put a letter through the door of the neighbours once you know what you can do about it, it won't just be annoying you, they'll be annoyed too.

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