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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if my landlord is being unreasonable?

165 replies

waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:02

We live in a private rented property. Last night I was upstairs in the bedroom when I heard the loudest crash and bang. Obviously went to investigate absolutely petrified thinking somebody had bricked our window, to find our glass shower screen had exploded. Glass covering every single surface in the bathroom and it had travelled outside all over the landing carpet. Thankfully our 3 year old DS was nowhere near at the time.

Me and DH spent the best part of an hour cleaning up as best as we could. I was shaken up just because I was so shocked and the noise was so, so loud.

Anyway, I reported it to my letting agent who has told us that the landlord will not be paying for the cost of a replacement and has blamed us for the damage.

For context, just over 12 months ago our oven door also shattered which he did replace. Another freak incident which we just couldn't explain. We have not damaged the shower screen in any way and now we are being told it is our fault and he is suspicious because of the oven door incident. He's said we either pay now or he deducts the money from our deposit at the end of the tenancy agreement Sad

I have no idea if we are being completely unreasonable in saying we do not want to pay for the replacement as it wasn't our fault.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Ispini · 20/01/2023 21:06

Absolutely not your fault! There has to be a reason why this is happening. If you can afford to move out, that’s a dangerous situation for a toddler. Could you report to the council perhaps?
Best of luck going forward.

JimDixon · 20/01/2023 21:07

Did it fall off the hinges? Have the hinges rotten away from the tiles and plasterboard? Is there a problem with condensation in the room?

If not what do you think caused it to happen?

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:07

@Ispini I'm honestly not sure if the council would do anything? The letting agent has told us we are in our right to seek advice but from who? We just don't have the finances at the moment to replace the screen so I don't know where we go from here Sad

OP posts:
Stopthebusplease · 20/01/2023 21:08

To be honest OP, it does sound a bit dodgy, two episodes of unexplained massive glass breakages. However, as I don't know you, or your home, I obviously can't really judge whether you might be 'trying it on' for want of a better expression. I think if I were you, bearing in mind that the LL paid for the cooker glass, I'd be inclined to bite the bullet and pay up, as if you don't, the LL could well prove to be really awkward about other problems that may crop up, but that's just my thoughts.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 20/01/2023 21:09

Do you not have insurance to cover damage to landlords property? We do it's £2.99 a month which is nothing for peace of mind. I guess not tho. We are getting our shower looked at tomorrow as the tray has cracked. If he spasms us to pay we will claim in the insurance.

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:09

@JimDixon The hinge is still on with the remaining bit of glass that we can't get off. I can't think of any reason why it would have happened - it was not damaged as far as we could see and there was nothing wrong whatsoever. It was such a shock, I'd never seen anything like it and the noise was horrendous. I'm struggling to make sense of how it happened still.

OP posts:
Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:11

@Stopthebusplease I can understand the other point of view, I'm just as miffed there's been 2 instances. It's twice now we've spent a lot of time cleaning up and it has taken ages. But it still doesn't seem fair that we are being accused as we literally have nothing to gain from doing any damage.

OP posts:
BelperLawnmower · 20/01/2023 21:11

DH says ...

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_glass_breakage

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:12

@Greensleevevssnotnose I didn't even know that existed. I wish I had known now!

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 20/01/2023 21:12

I've got a bit of experience of dealing with exploding glass doors. Extremes of temperature coupled with imperfections in the glass can cause the panels to go. Tiny pockets of gas expand and contract and the glass explodes. If they've been knocked by anything, particularly on the edges or corners that can also make this more likely.

My view is that your landlord may well have bought cheaper products for a rental and that might be why. To blame you and refuse to pay is pathetic. He should have insurance for starters.

toomuchfaster · 20/01/2023 21:13

A quick Google shows it's really quite common for shower screens to shatter spontaneously. Definitely push back as the landlord should replace.

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:13

@WeAreTheHeroes It seems like they have instantly jumped to conclusions just because the oven door smashed too. It's so frustrating as we are decent, honest people and to be accused is awful

OP posts:
JimDixon · 20/01/2023 21:14

waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:09

@JimDixon The hinge is still on with the remaining bit of glass that we can't get off. I can't think of any reason why it would have happened - it was not damaged as far as we could see and there was nothing wrong whatsoever. It was such a shock, I'd never seen anything like it and the noise was horrendous. I'm struggling to make sense of how it happened still.

Ah okay, I've just heard of this happening in a room with very poor ventilation and over time the wall gets damp through condensation. Then eventually the wall can't take the weight of the heavy glass screen any more, and the hinges and screen fall off.

So if that's the case for you I'm not sure what's caused it, apart from perhaps they used the wrong screws and it just wasn't enough to support the weight.

Anyway you can order a telescopic/extendable shower curtain and screen from Amazon for £20 or so, which can be a short-term fix so at least the floor won't get wet.

I'd definitely be trying to argue that this shouldn't have happened and it can't be down to anything you've done! Landlord should pay to get it fixed. The only problem will be if he decides it needs a lot of work, or he decides the rent is too low etc.

Honeyroar · 20/01/2023 21:14

Have you still got the broken glass (ie, in your bin)? If it shattered, rather than broke, it would be lots of tiny pieces. If it broke due to something you did it would be bigger pieces. You could probably use this as evidence. If you Google shattered shower panels it shows pictures of it. It would be unlikely that you could break the glass like that yourself.

KenAddams · 20/01/2023 21:14

It defo can just "explode" without warning.. can you maybe got a shower curtain installed maybe a bit cheaper

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:15

@toomuchfaster I will try I think on Monday, but when I've spoke to them earlier today they're adamant it's our fault, it's we pay or it comes out of our deposit

OP posts:
JimDixon · 20/01/2023 21:15

"So if that's NOT the case for you..."

Flapjackquack · 20/01/2023 21:16

This is definitely a “thing” - I have heard of this happening to 2 people I know, I am always really wary of my shower screen because of it.

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:16

@Honeyroar Yes, we sent pictures of everything which showed all of the tiny pieces of glass. It never crossed my mind that we would be accused of doing anything as it just seems so stupid! Why would we?

OP posts:
Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:16

@Flapjackquack It's definitely put me off, especially having a young child..

OP posts:
wouldukissafrog · 20/01/2023 21:19

@Greensleevevssnotnose can you share a link/ info on where to find this insurance please

itswednesdayy · 20/01/2023 21:20

I don’t know what to suggest. The charity shelter should be able to provide advice though.

Original poster
waveyc · 20/01/2023 21:20

Does anybody know if there is such a thing where tenants can seek advice?

OP posts:
itswednesdayy · 20/01/2023 21:21

just noticed how silly my response was, I meant more that it’s a difficult one but hopefully shelter can help you draft a response

anaconda1831 · 20/01/2023 21:21

I work for a tenants rights organisation. This is your landlords responsibility to fix. If they try to take it out of your deposit when you leave you can challenge this through the deposit scheme it should be protected in.

( just fyi if your deposit isn’t protected that puts you in a stronger position as it invalidates eviction notices and you can sue for up to 3x amount of deposit)

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