AIBU?
To expect my landlord to fix my toilet before Monday?
Overthinkings · 27/09/2018 15:29
Tuesday night my toilet started leaking. Landlord came over that night to inspect and said he’d hopefully have someone out the next day (Wednesday). He turned the pipe leading to the cistern off, the toilet is still usable but having to fill it with a bucket after each flush. Yesterday he messaged to say he couldn’t get his usual plumber round mine til today. The plumber has just been and said he can do it but not til Monday - and that was only a ‘hopefully’, by which time it’ll be nearly a week. Is it unreasonable if I text my landlord and say I need this sorting sooner? I’ve left the lid off the cistern so I can fill it easier, it’s just a pain in the arse especially with a 13yo DC also in the house... I’m privately renting. Do I pester or just leave it?
MicroManaged · 27/09/2018 15:32
If the plumber can’t do it until Monday, what else do you expect the LL to do?
It’s hardly that much of a pain is it, taking 30 seconds to flush with a bucket.
If it makes it easier for you, there’s no need to manually fill up the cistern. Just dump a bucket of water straight down the toilet. It has the same effect and is easier.
alittlequinnie · 27/09/2018 15:35
The trouble is that the Landlord is expected to fix things in a "reasonable time".
He came around the same day you reported it - reasonable.
His plumber came two days later - reasonable.
The plumber says he can't come back to attempt to fix for another two working days later - still reasonable.
I understand that this feels unreasonable to you as it will technically be a week but unfortunately the landlord can't wave a magic wand and get it fixed sooner.
You don't need to flush the water through the cistern either - just pour a bucket of water into the toilet bowl and everything will flush through - bit of a pain but not too bad.
BlueBug45 · 27/09/2018 15:36
Is the plumber your LL uses a cowboy? If not then wait for him to come round and do the work without complaining.
If you had your own property you would have to wait the same amount of time for a tradie you used before and was good to be free to do the work.
Sirzy · 27/09/2018 15:37
You can flush it though and workmen can’t just be magicked from thin air - especially not good ones!
He has responded to your problem and is trying to sort it. I think you need to be a bit patient
Overthinkings · 27/09/2018 15:39
I did not know that about the manual flush by pouring water straight into the toilet pan and flushing it through 
that makes it much easier and i will be patient instead!
BlueBug45 · 27/09/2018 15:43
OP depending on the toilet design and what you have just done, you won't necessarily need an entire bucket each time.
JassyRadlett · 27/09/2018 15:49
If the plumber can’t do it until Monday, what else do you expect the LL to do?
Franky, I would expect the LL to at least try to source a plumber who could do it more quickly, even if it cost more. Vanishingly few places have only one plumber...
People likening this to home ownership are way off base. Renting is not like home ownership. There are downsides but there are also benefits, including expecting repairs to be carried out in a timely way to a decent standard at the landlord’s expense.
MaryBoBary · 27/09/2018 16:01
We waited 4 weeks for the Landlord to fix our toilet. And I was going through a miscarriage at the time which wasn’t nice. But pouring water straight down the toilet isn’t too much of a chore
ZaZathecat · 27/09/2018 16:14
Unless it's a big property rental company, the landlord is unlikely to have a team of experts at hand on 24 hour call-out. And if the first plumber says he can do it in a few days that if preferable to trying to get another plumber to come along, do another quote and maybe not be able to do it straightaway either.
JassyRadlett · 27/09/2018 16:29
Unless it's a big property rental company, the landlord is unlikely to have a team of experts at hand on 24 hour call-out.
Oh let’s not overstate! For my own home, I can make a choice between my usual plumber when he can fit me in, or paying twice as much for the emergency 24-hour plumber.
Given I can get the 24-hour plumber if I’m willing to pay, the landlord running a business should also exercise that option if their usual person can’t do it in a reasonable timeframe (and a week is pushing it, frankly.) The tenant doesn’t have the luxury of making that choice for themselves but has to live with the consequences of the landlord’s choice.
Mymomsbetterthanyomom · 27/09/2018 16:34
Heck yes,I'd be furious!
You shouldn't have to go without a proper toilet.
And any quality LL would be smart enough to fix it himself!
Good luck girl!!
CuriousaboutSamphire · 27/09/2018 16:38
Erm, ignore
A leaking toilet is a specialist job, Your LL has acted promptly and it is likely that even if you owned the house you would have the same wait!
NarcolepticOuchMouse · 27/09/2018 16:39
Personally whenever we have issues like this the landlord has the plumber round and fixing it the same day. Once he had to get a part and still fixed it same day. So yes I wouldn't be very happy waiting all that time. I think it's UR to make you wait that long.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 27/09/2018 16:39
Jessy the LL doesn't have to go to extra lengths, just to do what any householder would do.. and many would wait patiently and keep pouring water down the pan!
sillywitch · 27/09/2018 16:40
Yes, I think the issue is that home owners think "yes, I'd wait that long, it's reasonable to me" and tenants pay for repairs via their rent. It's not really the same. I would like to think that if I was a LL, I would pay double for an emergency fix of a toilet. It doesn't happen every day and it's pretty grim not to be functional. What if they had a friend over for tea? "Here's a bucket..."
Omeletteandbeans · 27/09/2018 16:42
If it was your own home and your only toilet you'd be calling round every plumber in town to find someone who would do it sooner. In the absence of any evidence that the landlord has done this I don't think OP is being at all unreasonable to be peeved. Yes it might cost the landlord more than his usual plumber, but you know what, she's paying his fucking mortgage for him, the least she can expect is a working sanitation system!
I'm so sick of these comments suggesting private renters should be grateful to receive the service they're paying through the nose for.
Neshoma · 27/09/2018 16:43
Why can't your 13yo DS pick up a bucket of water and pour it down the loo?
Oh and YABU!
TomHardysNextWife · 27/09/2018 16:50
You just need a pint jug of water OP straight down the pan. Make life easy for yourself.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 27/09/2018 16:51
Homeowners pay for repairs too, sillywitch
It my seem unfair, unreasonable etc, to some of you but the LL responded immediately, same day, and the next morning managed to find a plumber to go out. That the plumber can't fix it until Monday is inconvenient but not unusual. Yes, I'd be peeved, but if I had a bucket it wouldn't be a problem, it is gong to be fixed!
All this 'fucking landlord' invective is ridiculous!
chillpizza · 27/09/2018 16:56
I think when you repaying for a professional service 24hour calls outs should be used rather than waiting for the cheapest option aka your cowboy mate normally.
When it’s your own home it’s your choice to live with it for a few weeks you own it, but if I pay a company for something I expect what I pay for and in a timely manner a week for a likely simple leak to be fixed is not timely.
amicissimma · 27/09/2018 16:57
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
chillpizza · 27/09/2018 16:59
I’m basing it off my letting agent and two leaky toilets. They only seem to have a couple of competent handy men the rest of bodge it bobs I doubt the landlord knows this though.
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