I've just fallen through my bathroom floor

[MhysaMhysa]

Sorry for posting here don't know where to put this.

I have damp in my house and my landlord won't do anything about it.

Previously, part of the kitchen floor collapsed and he nailed it back on and said he'd sort out new flooring, never happened.

This morning I was bathing DD and a piece of floor half the size of a tile collapsed and I fell through it, it's deeper than it looks, came up to above my knees.

Can't get in touch with my landlord but when I do, what should I expect to be done to properly fix this? I don't know anything about it, so it's unlikely I'll know if he is doing what he should, although I'm assuming nails and a hammer aren't going to cut it this time.

If DD had fallen through it, she could have really hurt herself.

I don't have any practical advice but I just wanted to send some and virtual support. This is an absolutely appalling situation, and your LL is a complete bastard.

This just gets worse. Yes you're right, fix it right first time or it will end up costing you way more.

We once spent Christmas and New years eve fixing a ceiling that had fallen through because my tenant didn't report the leak from the bath that had been going for months. I feel really angry and frustrated for you and only wish I had more practical advice right now.

I think the only thing I can say is you really need to get a new landlord. And as quick as you can.

I would speak to Shelter. Although it is useful for you to know what is happening direct from the builder (more accurate) the builder should be reporting direct to the LL as well. That means LL can’t say you didn’t relay any message.

Speak to the council now. They may or may not take action but they can’t do anything if you haven’t reported.

I hope you get some sort of resolution - even if it is moving to somewhere better.

We had a similar problem in our bathroom, the floor was bowing - fortunately I saw it and reported it before going through the floor! My landlord is good, thankfully, but to repair it the plumbers had to come and take everything out (toilet, sink, etc.) find the leak - it was a very slow dripping leak from a pipe - and repair it. Then the joiner came out and ripped out the entire floor, right down to the joists. Replaced it all and rebuilt for floor from the bottom up. Then the plumber came back and refitted everything. It was a big repair cause it had gone on so long before becoming visible and it took around 5 days from start to finish. Fortunately we had a second wee bathroom cause obviously it was completely unusable for the duration of repairs.

Good god, that's dreadful. I've seen some appalling disrepair in my time (housing support worker) but that takes the bloody biscuit. If the joists are shot, I'd be very wary of using that bath.

OP, ring the council first thing and explain it's an emergency - you have a child and an unsafe bathroom! Getting your local councillor involved is an excellent suggestion, matters raised by councillors almost always get acted on more quickly than stuff raised by residents.

Incidentally, I was just reading about some landlord in East Grinstead who was fined £55k for renting out an unsafe flat!

How are things Mhysa ?

I keep thinking of you and hoping that you have some friends /family to rally round .Plus someone you can visit for a bath /shower in this weather !

Though it's amazing what you can do with a bucket/flexi tub .

I owned my own flat but the next block were a lot of private tenants and one flooded my flat through the party wall (washing machine discharging into guttering). I had mushrooms everywhere and the bedroom ceiling collapsed. Landlord wouldn't talk to my insurer. I eventually had Environmental Health round. My flat was unfit for habitation and two weeks later I had the offer of a council flat, rent paid by my insurance. My insurer never got much out of next door's landlord so eventually paid up for repairs. Council EH and Housing were wonderful.

It will be karma indeed if he decides to sell and then finds its worth a lot less than he thought it nobody wants it because it's unmortgageable.

How are things for you now OP?