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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to be annoyed at the painter leaving my new bathroom like this?

63 replies

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 10:56

I've just bought my first house which is a new build and it's just been finished. I went around yesterday to check over everything and make sure I've a note of all the snags prior to sale closing.

The interiors painting was organised by my builder who got the painters in to do all the rooms.

I checked my downstairs toilet and saw that someone has used it, (for a no2) and not cleaned it particularly well. Like they obviously flushed it but there was still skid marks and disgusting stuff left in bowl.

I had to go and buy a brush and some bleach and a scrub it out myself as wasn't happy to leave it sitting like that.

I was annoyed at that but what also really annoyed me was that it was obviously the painter has used it because he also left a bloody big smudge of paint on the seat, the porcelain underside of it.

This is a brand new bathroom and I'm fucked off that he not only used it and didn't have the wit to leave it as clean as he got it but also left paint on it that I now have to sort.

Aibu to be pissed off about this? I'm meeting my builder today to run over some last minute stuff and feel like I should mention it to him as he should have a word with his builder to have a bit more respect for peoples property 🤔

OP posts:
AlertCat · 10/10/2024 10:57

Yeah that’s taking the piss. Not ok. Raise it and get a discount or something off the work.

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 12:05

Yeah thanks @AlertCat like I don't mind in principle someone like that using the toilet if they need it I mean if you need to go you need to go but leaving it dirty and then the paint smear too it's just downright disrespectful

OP posts:
LemonTT · 10/10/2024 12:08

Tbf it isn’t your property yet if the sale isn’t closed.

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 12:11

LemonTT · 10/10/2024 12:08

Tbf it isn’t your property yet if the sale isn’t closed.

Does that make it ok then?

I know my builder will not be happy about this either ffs

OP posts:
icouldholditwithacobweb · 10/10/2024 12:11

LemonTT · 10/10/2024 12:08

Tbf it isn’t your property yet if the sale isn’t closed.

Since it's a new build and the OP clearly has permission to make modifications like painting (indicating the sale is definitely going ahead - the housing company aren't pulling out, are they?), how is that comment relevant in any way?

zeitweilig · 10/10/2024 12:13

That's minging.
Mention it to the builder and make sure to leave a suitable review, mentioning the paint and, well non-paint, streaks......🤢

Allthehorsesintheworld · 10/10/2024 12:16

Add it to the snags list with any comments you feel appropriate. Say how you’d like it rectified ( eg does it need a new seat, )

KarmenPQZ · 10/10/2024 12:19

I think having suitable facilities is pretty high up the list of needs for employees. The employer needs to provide the suitable facilities. I’d say this also includes a brush and bleach. If it wasn’t there how did anyone expect him to clean it???

A smudge of paint on the seat I think you’re being a bit precious about it in my opinion. I think given it’s your first property you’re bound to want everything perfect but home ownership is messy and hard work I. My experience at least.

congrats on your first home and good luck!

SiobhanSharpe · 10/10/2024 12:24

KarmenPQZ · 10/10/2024 12:19

I think having suitable facilities is pretty high up the list of needs for employees. The employer needs to provide the suitable facilities. I’d say this also includes a brush and bleach. If it wasn’t there how did anyone expect him to clean it???

A smudge of paint on the seat I think you’re being a bit precious about it in my opinion. I think given it’s your first property you’re bound to want everything perfect but home ownership is messy and hard work I. My experience at least.

congrats on your first home and good luck!

A toilet brush?? On mumsnet??
Not altogether serious -- but it's perfectly possible (although grim) to be able to clean a toilet without the use of a brush, this person clearly didn't even try.
I recall Aggie or Kim saying to just use your rubber-gloved hand and a cloth or paper.

AlertCat · 10/10/2024 12:40

KarmenPQZ · 10/10/2024 12:19

I think having suitable facilities is pretty high up the list of needs for employees. The employer needs to provide the suitable facilities. I’d say this also includes a brush and bleach. If it wasn’t there how did anyone expect him to clean it???

A smudge of paint on the seat I think you’re being a bit precious about it in my opinion. I think given it’s your first property you’re bound to want everything perfect but home ownership is messy and hard work I. My experience at least.

congrats on your first home and good luck!

There are portaloos on the site that this painter could have used. What he did was disrespectful and yes, the paint splodge is unacceptable as well. Client shouldn’t have known he was there at all.

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 12:42

@KarmenPQZ it's a big smidge, about Palm of hand sized. I wouldn't do that to a friends or acquaintances home, leave a smear of paint on their furniture or fittings so don't see why he should. He could have simply left the toilet as he found it, not much to ask. There's always ways to get rid of shit stains without a toilet brush, we have all had to do it, it's not that difficult

OP posts:
CoastalCalm · 10/10/2024 12:46

The cleaning squad should sort it before you move in , before then really you can’t complain as it’s work in progress not a finished article

MrMucker · 10/10/2024 12:48

If there's paint on the seat and it's fairly fresh then just clean it off. Will take you 2 minutes. Ditto for the cack smears in the bowl..Presumably you'd have to source toilet cleaning stuff for when you live there anyway?
So that'll take you all of five minutes to sort.
Versus complaining, which will take a lot more than five minutes out of a lot more than one person's day.

Saw thread title and thought maybe they've botched the edging, used the wrong colour, left undercoat showing, paint on carpet, dunno.

But what you actually have- could've cleaned it in the time it took you to post tbh.
Buying a house is stressful already enough,you need to pick the battles that matter, not sure this one does. Someone pooed during the course of their working day. You found a recent paint smudge on a nonporous surface. It's nothing really.

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 12:54

CoastalCalm · 10/10/2024 12:46

The cleaning squad should sort it before you move in , before then really you can’t complain as it’s work in progress not a finished article

Cleaning squad were already in and gone. Painter was asked (by my builder) to touch up a wall after carpet fitters had scratched it - so painter was only in to touch up a wall

OP posts:
Lilifer · 10/10/2024 12:56

MrMucker · 10/10/2024 12:48

If there's paint on the seat and it's fairly fresh then just clean it off. Will take you 2 minutes. Ditto for the cack smears in the bowl..Presumably you'd have to source toilet cleaning stuff for when you live there anyway?
So that'll take you all of five minutes to sort.
Versus complaining, which will take a lot more than five minutes out of a lot more than one person's day.

Saw thread title and thought maybe they've botched the edging, used the wrong colour, left undercoat showing, paint on carpet, dunno.

But what you actually have- could've cleaned it in the time it took you to post tbh.
Buying a house is stressful already enough,you need to pick the battles that matter, not sure this one does. Someone pooed during the course of their working day. You found a recent paint smudge on a nonporous surface. It's nothing really.

Thanks but don't think mentioning this to my builder constitutes a "battle" maybe it does in your book 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ChiffandBipper · 10/10/2024 12:59

Assuming he doesn't carry a toilet brush and bleach around with him, I don't know what you want him to have done differently - not use the toilet or scrub with his bare hands?

The paint thing would depend on what colour the paint was as to whether or not I was annoyed by it. Eg. Bright blue on a white loo is very noticeable, whereas white paint on a white loo I wouldn't care too much about.

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 13:05

@ChiffandBipper
If I can manage to leave a toilet bowl clean without a scrub brush then I expect any other adult to be able to do so.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 10/10/2024 13:11

Mention it to the site manager or customer care. Insist their cleaners come and thoroughly clean your toilet. Absolutely no way should you have to.

Alucard55 · 10/10/2024 14:28

Lilifer · 10/10/2024 13:05

@ChiffandBipper
If I can manage to leave a toilet bowl clean without a scrub brush then I expect any other adult to be able to do so.

Me too. No need to leave shite round a loo. Brush or no brush.

longtompot · 11/10/2024 10:20

If there's paint on the seat and it's fairly fresh then just clean it off. Will take you 2 minutes. Ditto for the cack smears in the bowl..Presumably you'd have to source toilet cleaning stuff for when you live there anyway?
So that'll take you all of five minutes to sort.
Versus complaining, which will take a lot more than five minutes out of a lot more than one person's day

The same applies to the person who made the mess. Why should the op clean the shit of someone who isn't even part of their household?

I'd complain too @Lilifer not to stop the loos being used, just to get the users to check after themselves.

Dramatic · 11/10/2024 10:36

It's not something I could get worked up about to be honest. I'd probably have a very quick moan to myself at the time but then clean it and think nothing more of it.

Kingoftheroad · 11/10/2024 10:41

No way : that’s disgusting. My business is property and If anyone left any toilet like this they’d be off the site and never back.

I would go spare If a contractor even used the toilet when there’s porta loos provided

As for the person who asked, what else could he do, are you serious? I assume that he cleaned his backside with something - then he should use it to clean the toilet.

Tell the site manager asap

SwanRivers · 11/10/2024 10:44

Kingoftheroad · 11/10/2024 10:41

No way : that’s disgusting. My business is property and If anyone left any toilet like this they’d be off the site and never back.

I would go spare If a contractor even used the toilet when there’s porta loos provided

As for the person who asked, what else could he do, are you serious? I assume that he cleaned his backside with something - then he should use it to clean the toilet.

Tell the site manager asap

The OP has repeatedly said 'My builder', so I can't see there being a site manager etc.

Having her own builder would indicate just the one house, that's being built just for her?

NeverEnoughPants · 11/10/2024 10:57

Yeah that’s taking the piss

It's literally the opposite... 😁

Bangwam1 · 11/10/2024 11:31

If you had no toilet brush, how was he supposed to clean the toilet?

Emulsion on porcelain comes off easy too

Maybe I’m too chilled but I couldn’t get worked up about this. Shit happens.