Landlord issue re blocked plumbing

[Dancingwithdaftness]

Hi there
I couldn't find a section on Tenancy so I figured I would start here as it's popular.
My landlord is responsible for pipes or something supplying water to my home, can't remember exact wording. There's also a clause that if any damage is done by anyone I hire to do work, then I will be liable and I need permission from landlord to do any work which they won't give. So for 5 weeks I've been complaining about my bathroom toilet which is blocked and which nothing we have tried will resolve. Whole bathroom seems blocked up. Landlord let it slide for 3 weeks then apparently they were sending someone who never showed up and everytime I contact them they say they'll send someone around but never do.

What should I do as we can't live like this. We have to do our business in public facilities/work. Is there anyone I can get in contact with about them maybe not fulfilling their obligations or something? We're slowly losing our shit. This has been going on for 5 weeks now!

Get it fixed privately. If damage gets done, refuse to pay. Clauses in contracts don't override what is deemed to be fair. Hopefully you have a paper trail that proves how long this has been going on. I'd keep back the cost from the next month's rent.

Also if there's a shared drain the water board will fix blockages free of charge. Might be worth getting them out anyway and passing on any bill.

Remind your landlord that he has a legal responsibility regarding health and safety, no access to a working toilet contravenes this.

www.gov.uk/private-renting/repairs

You should contact environmental health at your local council for further advice.

Landlord is an asshat so wouldn't take kindly about me saying he has a legal responsibility. I can't afford a solicitor, so relying on his good will. which seems non existent

He can't harm you for reminding him he has legal obligations. Even if he served you notice, you are in a position to force him to evict you and that would cost him money. You are paying rent and you gave rights - this is a business arrangement. He isn't showing you any goodwill.
Environmental health at the council is a good shout.

Is it actually properly blocked? If so you can usually get a local person to clear your drain for £100 or so. Ask your water company to check the block is not on the public drain first. Ask your landlord to reimburse you and if he doesn’t, take it off the rent.

Are you in England or Wales? Try contacting your local council - ask if they have anyone who assists with private lettings, and failing that environmental health. Not having a working toilet is one thing that the council do get involved with even if it's a private letting (others include if there's damage to staircases, fire exit issues, or rats)

I'm in England. I will try council on Monday. Another weekend of this shit. We've a McDonalds right by us so we can survive but it's just a strain. Properly blocked we wee in bowl and pour down sink which is only partially blocked.

I just want it fixed but I'm so angry I want to sue them for the stress and inconvenience.

Definitely speak to environmental health at the council, they can make the landlord repair it and if he won't then they will arrange the repair and bill him for it.

Given that he's an asshat, there's a strong chance he will serve you notice. This isn't necessarily a bad thing if he's isn't doing repairs however he has to give you six months notice so you'll have lots of time to look elsewhere.

When we had an issue with a dangerous staircase (which is how I learnt what the requirements were) the council used their powers to require the landlord to fix that and a number of other costly repairs (turned out the fire was unsafe, fire regs weren't met and one room couldn't be used). They suspended our rent - it was no longer due for the period until everything was fixed and reinspected - AND they investigated other homes he owned, and passed on his details to the tax office as he wasn't declaring the rental income.

Councils do have the power to take legal action but don't, I assume it's too costly. But they definitely made things difficult for our landlord. It was rather satisfying, even though I knew it meant I wouldn't stay in the long run.