Whose responsibility is this - property issue

[BrokenBathCeilingFloor]

We are custodians of a house that belongs to a family member. We live here rent free simply so the house doesn't stand empty and are in charge of daily running of things and basic decorative repair. Insurances are held by the home owner.

We have no contract. I feel this is crucial to say!

The bathroom has been needing to be done for several years and we have been saving hard to afford this on the assumption it's our responsibility. However today it sprung a leak through to the kitchen and we at the very least need to rip up the now sodden floorboards and replace the bath. We can't afford this. I feel as it's a wear and tear issue insurance won't cover it.

Would this fall on us or the home owners to repair?

To not leave anything unsaid the homeowners are really evasive when we've tried to ask for help in the past on another issue that required an insurance claim and they refused for ages to contact the insurer's.

Repairs we've already carried out are: replacing the boiler and central heating, replacing the drive, relandscaping the very overgrown garden, general redecorating throughout.

You seem to be saying that you have spent the equivalent of 6 years rent on upkeep.

Unless they have paid well over 40k then I doubt it.

Why haven't you taken out your own building and contents insurance ? Use comparison websites , would not be that much per year, would possibly have paid for the water leak

How can you not afford it if you pay no rent?

You don't need to tear up floorboards that just got wet from a leak today, they will dry out. You just need to fix where the leak is coming from, which is unlikely to involve a whole new bath. Even if it does, a new bath will cost less than 1 months market-rate rent for pretty much any property, they are not expensive.

All the responsibility and no perks.? Isn’t 6 years rent free considered a perk? I’d say it was a pretty big one.
However perhaps you should consider moving into a rental with a letting agreement etc and you won’t be liable for repairs

Something doesn't add up - if you are not paying rent then surely you have the savings unless you are servicing debt you haven't mentioned? Anyway, an escape of water should be covered by insurance.