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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is not acceptable?

111 replies

lill72 · 12/06/2018 16:33

Hi, Ive just had the maintenance guy from the company that does the maintenance on our rental property hang up on me. For no reason other than I dare to try and tell him that there is a problem with something which I guess he reads as he has no done his job properly.

He installed a new toilet seat as the last was slipping and cracked. The day the new one was installed I noticed it was also slipping and emailed them.No reply. Emailed again as it is getting worse. I get an email back saying it was ok when he checked it and they will come and look at it, but if it is damaged they will charge us. WTF.?? how did we do any damage. Bit accusatory.

Then I wanted the hems on curtains fixed. He said the curtains were dirty and greasy so he could not put backing tape on? Again WTF? they are not either of these and there is no reason they cannot be fixed. why dont they sew them anyway and actually they are too long to begin with so easy to get dust on bottom as they do. So he passed onto the LL that they are dirty and greasy. Ah they are not.

When I called to dispute this he gets very defensive and then says someone will attend and hang up. I have let the lettings manage but how I handle this ongoing? They have accused us of any things but dot follow through on charging us when I kick up a fuss. why - because their accusations are utter BS.

I kick up a fuss. They dont like it as I call them out.

Oh to handle these people. They are so unprofessinal.

OP posts:
FrancisCrawford · 12/06/2018 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 12/06/2018 17:33

Does property maintenance include hemming curtains? I thought that would come under soft furnishings? I've never heard of a rental agreement like this before.

It would be absurd if they were paying a contractor to come out to look at a curtain hem. That could be easily fixed yourself probably for less money and hassle than the price of continually calling them.

The person hung up but they don't have to listen to any abusive language or raised voices. Perhaps you lost your rag a bit?

babybrainusedtobesmart · 12/06/2018 17:34

I would never, ever call a landlord for this as it's actually the tenants responsibility to upkeep the property normally. however it took me and DH houuuuuurs to change our toilet seat!!! The angle of the wall meant it was really hard to get a screwdriver around the back and then the screw broke and we had to hacksaw through the bloody thing!

Oldraver · 12/06/2018 17:35

He probably hung up as he was gobsmacked at someone wanting a contractor to come out again to a frigging toilet seat

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 12/06/2018 17:36

I thought most tenants just change the toilet seats when they move in because it feels cleaner that way! No? just me? Grin

Imaweeble · 12/06/2018 17:38

When we moved into our property the toilet seat was cracked, we pointed it out the letting agent purely so they knew that we hadn't done it. Eventually it cracked completely so we replaced it and put the new one on ourselves. I've never know a toilet seat to be complicated to screw on.

No the guy shouldn't have hung up on you but if you had an attitude with him then it's understandable. I know when things go wrong in a property it's very frustrating but sometimes a bit of common sense doesn't go amiss.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 12/06/2018 17:38

Maybe he dropped the phone when he started banging his head against the wall and sobbing quietly to himself after your fifth call?

Imaweeble · 12/06/2018 17:39

Oh and for the curtains could you not just gets some wonderweb and fix them yourself?

SoddingUnicorns · 12/06/2018 17:40

@ikeepaforkinmypurse no, I’ve done it in every house I’ve moved into, rented or bought.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 12/06/2018 17:41

for your curtains, if the hem really bothers you, may I suggest
this

or that

If I was the landlord, I would just remove the curtains entirely if they are not satisfactory!

EggysMom · 12/06/2018 17:45

He probably hung up before he swore at you for being useless.

busybarbara · 12/06/2018 17:47

You are totally within your rights to demand the landlord fix things that were present and fitted when you moved in. That's what they're there for, if I wanted to fix my own toilet seat I'd buy a house! My landlord got very shirty with us when we got him to clean out the gutters and drains but he did in the end!!

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 12/06/2018 17:49

if I wanted to fix my own toilet seat I'd buy a house!

Are you fucking kidding me Shock I'm amazed adults really think like this, do you need someone to change your lightbulbs too? Hmm

ALiensAbductedMe · 12/06/2018 17:50

To answer, maintenance if a property is generally things that need a contractor or are dangerous. Generally is it is something you would not normally call someone out for, then don't. If you are worried about getting into trouble for changing things then run it by the agent/landlord. Some people take the piss and call for every little thing, most people don't like waiting around and get on with things. You sounds like you expect every property maintenance issue to be dealt with by the landlord which is in itself a bit unusual and I am sure tiresome for all of you. I would expect adult tenants to carry out routine maintenance themselves as that is part of your contractual obligation in keeping the property in a decent state while renting it. By the way you describe them and your attitude I would imagine they are fed up with your demands. Hanging up on you isn't right, but is it possible they just felt they had dealt with things and don't like long goodbyes?! They sound a bit peed, understandably. Be careful as if you need to rent again somewhere else or renew they may be difficult, especially if you are rude to them. I know you say your not but your comments about calling out their BS etc indicate you may not be the most pleasant tenant. Not being horrible but you are an adult and in all my years managing properties I have not come across a toilet seat I could not change myself...

Nicknacky · 12/06/2018 17:50

busy A tenant has surely got to do minor maintenance like screw a toilet seat or fix a curtain. They don't like in a hotel.

Fuck, I'm tempted to move into rented if it means I have to do bugger around the house!

Glittertrauma · 12/06/2018 17:54

I think this sounds completely unreasonable. You sound like the sort of person that makes a lot of fuss over nothing. If I was the landlord I would completely ignore anything about the curtains as well. They sound like they've been more than tolerant! If you want to control every detail like the curtains perhaps you should look at buying rather than renting!

ALiensAbductedMe · 12/06/2018 17:58

@busybarbara nice attitude! It's worth bearing in mind that a landlord is responsible for keeping the property habitable, but a tenant is responsible for fixing and maintaining anything that they, their guests or their pets damage. After such a short time it is arguable that the landlord has more than fulfilled his obligation by fixing the toilet seat once, and if it is broken again so soon misuse or accidental danlmage may be suspected.

SabineUndine · 12/06/2018 18:01

My last flat was rented. I lived there 12 years. During that time the only maintenance the landlord did was to replace the immersion heater element twice and mend a leaky pipe in the bathroom.

You’re phoning about 10 minute jobs that anyone could do?

stayathomegardener · 12/06/2018 18:03

Our tenant offered to try and replace a leaking tap herself!
Obviously we said no and got a plumber in. (Well she did at her convenience and we paid the bill)
This is why we value her as a tenant, always renew and rent is under market value.

I wouldn't expect your tenancy to be renewed, there has to be give and take.

BlankTimes · 12/06/2018 18:14

It requires everything to be unscrewed!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it does, the screws are very long and you have to spin them for quite a few more turns to tighten. Righty tighty Leftie loosey in case you don't know.

That's how all toilet seats it fix on. Some have one washer, some have two, one for the top and one underneath. It is one of the easiest things to do around the home and should be done in well under 10 minutes even allowing for you to clean the area where the other one was.

Stop being so lazy and change it yourself.

If I was your landlord, I'd charge you for spurious call-outs.

crispysausagerolls · 12/06/2018 18:14

I just want to say that we have a modern loo and the loo seat is not just two screws, it's a very complicated job which requires a handyman (had to have it changed 2 weeks ago).

I don't understand what's wrong with the curtains though, and the attitude of the people dealing with you makes me think you are being very annoying. Usually landlords are required to help when actual fixtures or fittings are broken beyond reasonable repair - not because of aesthetics e.g my curtains are longer than I would like.

crispysausagerolls · 12/06/2018 18:16

OMG! I take back my previous comment as I now understand completely how the bloody loo seat works! It LOOKS complicated but it is, in fact, not. If you can't do it OP you should get someone in yourself.

steff13 · 12/06/2018 18:21

I've replaced multiple toilet seats in my life. I"m so excited to be able to add "contractor" as a skill on my resume.

If the curtains are too long, take them down and hem them, or buy news ones that are your taste. If you haven't washed them since you've moved in, you should at least take them down and do that.

Jux · 12/06/2018 18:24

Am fascinated by this new-style loo seat.

Can you post a link to one like it so we can see. I have to get a new seat for pne of ours and wonder whether I need a new style one?

Slarti · 12/06/2018 18:33

Oh and the loo seat could be the way you sit on it. My brother has a really irritating knack of being able to dislodge even the most competently fitted loo seat! Fuck knows how.

I know someone who regularly breaks his toilet seat. Even at the best of times it is wildly askew and new ones don't last 5 minutes. I can imagine him practically launching himself onto the toilet.

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