Private renting. Shower broken. Landlord obligation regardless of COVID-19?

[indemMUND]

Also posted on Legal but there's not much traffic.

Three days ago our electric shower broke. As in, requires the electric to be turned off and back on before the on button will function but even then only runs freezing cold. We don't have a bath. Landlord was informed on the day it broke (Friday). The maintenance people that the Landlord uses called early today saying that they would try to get someone out to us today. At 2:30pm with no update, I called them. They said their man was out of area so it would be tomorrow now and he will come round at 8am to "assess the shower issue" but will be out of area again for the rest of the day. I'm concerned because the landlord and maintenance company left us for 5 months without a flushing toilet during the last lockdown. Apparently they had the part but "couldn't get it to us". With the latest lockdown kicking in on Thursday, I'm worried they'll use the same excuse.
A friend has tonight hooked us up with a hose going from bathroom tap into shower cubicle. No doubt the guy will take issue with that at 8am tomorrow. Surely toilets and showers are considered emergency repairs that the landlord has to fix? I can't go 5 months or however long without a working shower. Private rent.

In the midst of a heavy period so the tap hook up tonight was a godsend. AIBU to be so wary of being fobbed off again? I already distrust the man they're sending out after he took photos of the sink basin without my knowledge (cheap ceramic which has hairline cracks through no fault of ours) and sent them to the landlady when he first came out to "assess" the toilet in March and she sent angry texts in response. Toilet wasn't fixed until August. Any advice would be great.

Check Shelter and Citizens Advice websites for proforma emails to send. Covid has nothing to do with this, landlord has obligation to sort this. You can report to local council if it’s not sorted quickly. Good luck, sorry you are having to go through this. The law is on your side.

@areallthenamesusedup Thank you, will definitely check those out

Absolutely. Sanitation ( ie the shower when you don’t have a bath) is a basic human right. Plumbers are allowed in the flat to fix things even during this upcoming lockdown. Someone posted earlier about central heating and got same response and links to relevant points.

Even homeowners might struggle to get someone same-day immediately (our plumber says he's been extra busy during Covid) - but it sounds like your landlord has form for messing around.

Put it in writing to the landlord so you have proof. Tell him the issue and request an urgent repair. If you have a young child or a medical condition it will be classed as especially urgent.

Don't let him fob you off with Covid excuses. We've had a plumber out during the pandemic. Important repairs have been going on the whole time, even during the first stricter lockdown. Plumbers are wearing PPE.

landlord has an obligation to fix this. Call shelter tomorrow. Or download their template email from their website. If they don't fix it within a reasonable time then you can take them to a tribunal for free and force a repair on them plus compensation

I have an 8 year old DD. When the toilet was finally fixed in August the maintenance guy didn't wear a mask. Wonder if he'll bother with one tomorrow. Tier 3 area until national lockdown.

IndemMUND that's really bad. Our plumber was excellent. Mask wearing, hygiene measures, very careful. He also asked us to let him know beforehand if we had any symptoms.

I'd hope most plumbers would want to take precautions. It's in their interest. Many are self employed. They don't want to lose money due to being off sick.

I think, once OP gets her appointment sorted, it would be perfectly reasonable if she asked the plumber to wear a mask if she wanted him to (she could have a spare ready in case they come without). Most people are very reasonable and understanding about the precautions.

Sorry - you are the OP! It's been a long day.

Email your landlord so it's in writing.
There's no excuse for him to delay this. Tier 3 or lockdown. Doesn't make a difference. It's an essential repair.

Builder was tiling our shower and the plumber had taken the shower off then it was lockdown. Luckily we had a shower tray in. We had a just slightly larger washing up bowl which we use for camping. Put that on the shower tray filled with hot soapy water and a flannel. For the whole of lockdown. Once it lifted he came to us first, bless him. He has been here today and we were just talking about it.
I support a little girl in Africa and every time I felt annoyed or moany I thought I am lucky I don’t have to walk miles for the water. Since I have been supporting her they have put a pump in the village.

I feel your pain. I hope you do get it sorted quickly.

Under new lockdown they still need to get it sorted as maintenance works can carry on in units. Ask contractors for their covid risk assessment and tell them they have to wear ppe

My tenants’ boiler broke today and I’ve already had a plumber round to fix it. It won’t always be possible to get someone the same day (though I do my best) but your landlord is being ridiculous.

In lockdown the rule is wfh if you can and go to work if you can’t, unless your workplace is shut. Plumbers are an essential service and will still be working.