Is my son responsible for shower damage caused by a loose drain cover?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

My DS is privately renting. He was in the shower and tripped over the loose drain cover supplied by the LL. As a result, damage has been caused to the cladding in the shower (his hand went through it trying not to fall).
The LL tell him it is his responsibility. I disagree as the LL using a loose item in the shower was the reason for the fall. It's also a big and expensive job according to the workman sent round. I'll attach some pictures. I've also got a copy of the tenancy agreement.
Help!

Has he previously reported the drain cover for being loose? How long has it been like that?

That's a manky drain and the cover looks like something you put in the kitchen sinking not sure what shower cladding is,,is it like a tile, I don't see how it all needs replacing

I think it's a sheet board material, often found in a caravan etc, it looks like tiles but has no grout lines and isn't as solid.

Jesus, does he ever clean the drain? In reply to your op, that is a kitchen sink drain cover and dangerous for a shower. He could have been badly injured and he should point that out to the landlord.

It wasn't loose as in it came loose. It is loose as in, the LL has just put it in the shower.

I think the shower wall is aqua board.

I'd get a 2nd opinion, if it's cladding panel it might be repairable, what does the tenancy agreement say, is there any insurance.

Did you son hurt himself on the defective item? Let’s hope he doesn’t sue the LL then…

A shower drain cover needs to be safe, sucrion or screwed in, that's nothing like your photo

Surely your son knew it was there? It looks like it’s been out there to try to prevent hair etc going down the plug hole and so the actual drain can be cleaned, not that he’s done any of that by the looks of it.

We’ve got wet wall panelling in our en-suite, it would take a lot of force to go through it.

This is the relevant parts of his tenancy agreement.

That’s impossible to read.

How was the drain cover in the plug hole? I mean that looks like something meant to be in a kitchen sink plug hole, not in a plughole near feet! I think the LL put the wrong thing in...

Looking at those photos, is your DS very tall as the damage seems to be very high up on the wall.

The landlord should be claiming the is on his insurance.

call shelter for advice is the best bet

6ft 2. So yes.

I have advised him to try contact shelter also, thank you.

I don't see how he fell over it?

He tripped on the edge of it because it wasn't a fixed cover.

It would slip around because it's not fixed, he wouldn't even need to trip on the edge of it, the loose cover sliding could easily make you lose your footing.

My shower has a drain at the front as you step into it, I honestly cannot see how I would trip over it in any way. I might possibly trip over the lip of the tray as I get into the cubicle, but there isn’t enough room for me to step onto the tray then take a further step - I just take one step into the middle of the cubicle. He must have cut his foot if he tripped over what looks to be a sharp piece of metal. Are you sure he’s being completely honest here and didn’t fall over after a few drinks???

Why didn’t he just lift it away if he knew it was loose? He also hasn’t been cleaning the drain?

He could have removed it any time if he thought it was a danger. And cleaned the bath to make it less slippy( a build up of conditioner can make a bath like an ice rink).

It isn't really relevant if he'd had a few drinks. I haven't asked as it really doesn't matter. As far as I can see, the loose cover shouldn't have been there in the first place. So how it happened is irrelevant.

As far as I understand, he tells me he was told it was needed because there are issues with the drains (it's an apartment block).