Flooded kitchen

TheAverageJoanne · 2025-05-17T19:39:12+00:00

I'm having a new kitchen but keeping the washing machine. The fitter removed the old units on Tuesday, the plasterer came on Wednesday and on Monday the fitting begins. I put some laundry in tonight and it flooded the kitchen. Clearly he's pulled something out. I turned off at the mains but it's full of water. He never told me not to use the washing machine. What do I do? Would it be fair to get an engineer in and ask for it to be knocked off the bill?

floodedhelp · 17/05/2025 20:42

You message them and ask them to come and sort it out

rubyslippers · 17/05/2025 20:43

Speak to both the fitter and plasterer and ask them to come and sort it between them

Original poster

TheAverageJoanne · 17/05/2025 20:45

floodedhelp · 17/05/2025 20:42

You message them and ask them to come and sort it out

Just have done. Thanks.

OP posts:

BakelikeBertha · 17/05/2025 20:46

Do you have a contact number for the person who is overseeing the job, or are you doing each job separately OP? Either way, I'd be on the phone to the person you believe is responsible, and if they don't answer, or you have to leave a message and they don't get back to you, then I don't think it would be unreasonable to get someone in to sort things out, and then bill the person responsible for the leak. However, do be prepared that they may argue about paying, but you should still presumably have the last say, unless you've paid them all upfront for some reason. So if they quibble, just with hold the amount from the final payment. If you can't get them by phone, I would also email them to tell them what you're going to do, so it doesn't come as a shock on Monday morning.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 17/05/2025 20:46

Can you see behind to see if anything has been knocked? It would presumably be accessible in order for them to have knocked it.

Original poster

TheAverageJoanne · 17/05/2025 20:48

Barrenfieldoffucks · 17/05/2025 20:46

Can you see behind to see if anything has been knocked? It would presumably be accessible in order for them to have knocked it.

No, I can't move it. I've also got a bad back! I've messaged the fitter. The plasterer hadn't been near it.

OP posts:

Original poster

TheAverageJoanne · 17/05/2025 20:51

BakelikeBertha · 17/05/2025 20:46

Do you have a contact number for the person who is overseeing the job, or are you doing each job separately OP? Either way, I'd be on the phone to the person you believe is responsible, and if they don't answer, or you have to leave a message and they don't get back to you, then I don't think it would be unreasonable to get someone in to sort things out, and then bill the person responsible for the leak. However, do be prepared that they may argue about paying, but you should still presumably have the last say, unless you've paid them all upfront for some reason. So if they quibble, just with hold the amount from the final payment. If you can't get them by phone, I would also email them to tell them what you're going to do, so it doesn't come as a shock on Monday morning.

The plasterer was separate and I paid him. I've not paid the fitter yet though. They should finish on Friday.

OP posts:

BakelikeBertha · 17/05/2025 21:02

Well in that case, if he doesn't come and fix it himself, and isn't happy that you've called someone else out, as I said, just withhold the money from his final payment OP, as clearly if he caused the leak by disconnecting something, then he should also have disconnected the machine, so that you couldn't use it, and have told you about it, even left you a note if you weren't around. However, is it possible, it's just a coincidence, and your machine was likely to leak anyway? I'd watch carefully if the fitter comes back, as he may well reconnect if he's pulled something adrift, and then claim it's nothing he's done. Do I take it there are no other adults in the house to help?

Original poster

TheAverageJoanne · 17/05/2025 21:20

@BakelikeBertha No just me and the cat! He fits washing machines anyway so he should be able to fix it Monday morning. I just chose to keep mine. There was nothing loose beforehand.

OP posts:

Hankunamatata · 17/05/2025 21:31

House insurance. Esp if you have emergency home cover