To think the landlord is responsible for sorting this!

[blondiebea]

Arguing with my husband because we seem to disagree.

We have been tenants in our flat for 3.5yrs. Never missed a rent payment, no noise problems, neighbours like us etc.

Landlord is lady who bought the flat from her son, our original landlord about 6 months into our first tenancy. She is often away in Spain and acts quite put out if we contact her for any repairs (we do this once or twice a year normally!)

Anyway, long story short as much as possible. We have had problems with dampness on the lounge carpet once before and she sent out the "handyman" she never sends an actual tradesman it's the same guy for everything. He said it was related to the boiler and done his thing and eventually it dried up.

Fast forward two weeks ago my husband resealed the bathroom sealant (he is not very good with DIY by his own admission) and now the damp patches in the lounge are back. He's convinced the two are connected.

I got a plumber out today and he said it's unlikely that's the reason it's probably the boiler or a pipe under the carpet.

The stain is getting worse and he thinks it's our responsibility to fix things! I think it's definitely the landlords and we haven't done anything wrong, we tried our best! He's worried she may try and evict us because of the damage he's a worrier bless him but it's starting to piss me off as it needs sorting and we don't have the money for plumbing work on a rented property!

He does know actual plumbing work needs to be approved and organised by her but he's banging on about getting a handyman to come out and redo the sealant in the bathroom!

I'm a landlord. We had this in our property. It was a leak in a pipe under the floor. We dealt with it as it was as our responsibility but ironically our tenants failed to tell us for about three weeks, meaning the damage was worse. They also pissed off on holiday the next day so we were going round checking the flat every day. Grrr!

I have been a landlord and this is definitely the responsibility of the landlord.

They also pissed off on holiday the next day so we were going round checking the flat every day. Grrr!

Nice. Even tenants are entitled to holidays...

Definitely landlord's responsibility

They also pissed off on holiday the next day so we were going round checking the flat every day. Grrr!

WTF?
So what if they went on holiday?

Why would you need to go round every day to check on the house. Bit excessive

Definitely landlord. AND you need to take photos of the carpet and keep dates of when the handyman visits - or plumber - visits and what they did - get their phone numbers and get them to initial it. Just keep it on file. Make sure you email your landlady (I trust she has one) so she knows exactly what needs to be done and what's being done. Tell your husband plumbing is not your job (technically she should be contacting the plumber). If he needs reassurance get him to contact the letting agency for confirmation or just google uk landlord responsibilities.

Of course if you'd let the bath or sink overflow and it wrecked everything it's a different ball game but you would be covered by your own insurance for damage, or should be.

It can be annoying for a landlord because everything seems to go wrong at weekends, bank holidays, Christmas and especially holidays. But she should have a list of contacts so she can get someone APPROPRIATE round in reasonable time. Or she needs to bite the bullet and pay a management agency to sort things out.

Just be calm, courteous and firm, and keep her informed.

They also pissed off on holiday the next day so we were going round checking the flat every day. Grrr!

Well they are hardly going to cancel their holiday because of your failed pipework. What a bizarre statement to be put out because you where inconvenienced by your own property but of course the tenants should bear the brunt of dealing with repair men and always being home

Leaks from pipes are always the LL job op.

We had to go round every day to firstly check that the plumber had found all the leaks as he suspected there might be more leaks. Secondly, because they'd left it so long the carpet, floorboards and wall were very wet and needed dried out with a dehumidifier, so we had to check it it needed emptying. There was also a bit of mould so my husband cleaned it thoroughly once it was all dried out. Satisfied? Pardon us for being conscientious landlords.

Would you have covered the cost of their pre booked holiday had they cancelled it?

Maybe They booked the holiday to be out of the way while the place was drying out and having floorboards pulled up to make it easier for the workmen.

Amateur more like, Miss!

Ok no need to have a go. I guess on MN landlords can't do anything right.

Landlord.

Same bloke for everything, eh?.gas safe?

What's the difference between an amateur and a professional landlord, do tell?

Lol so what if your tenants went on holiday! Why should they cancel because of a repair you're obliged to sort out?

It's clearly not that they went on holiday, it's that if they'd told her at the time instead of waiting 3 weeks the damage would have been less and it would have been all done BEFORE they went on holiday

Honestly this places sometimes. Yes, they are allowed to go on holiday, but the way they went about sorting the issue created a whole load of extra work for the landlord which is downright annoying.

Oh gosh yes Hanuta it was that they waited to tell us until just before they went on holiday. They hated having workmen in and I think they thought they'd hang on til their holiday so they'd be out of the way while it all got fixed.
When they moved out, there was a fault in a socket which was tripped the consumer unit. They claimed it had just happened that very morning. Yeah ok.

Ok no need to have a go. I guess on MN landlords can't do anything right

Of course they can. But you are completely in the wrong on this one. Did the tenants give you permission to enter their home every day while they were on holiday?

This happened in my old flat and it was a leaking pipe. Call the landlord.

We don't have gas, so that's not a problem and the Letting agents send people round to pat test the electrics.

It's just that she makes it seem like a hassle whenever we have contacted her in the past.

Ironically, we are off on holiday next Thursday I can assure you we haven't waited to tell her for that reason but I will certainly not be cancelling it to wait at home for repairs. If I owned the place, sure.

She's now been informed through the agents, that's how they instruct us to do it.
Photos sent so she can see it's fairly urgent. Hopefully she will send someone out tomorrow, not her Fix it person.

If not we know we have done our part at least.

Ll responsibility. We have been very lucky with our landlord. Fixes everything quickly and doesnt make a fuss. He does love his house though so i would assume this was normal!