Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

MY FAULT OR LANDLORDS DESPERATE PLEASE HELP

46 replies

pinkbunny2012 · 04/01/2014 23:12

Hi
I have been renting with my landlord for just over a year. Tonight I went to have a bath, pulled my shower screen back, (only gently) and its come off in my hands, smashed a mirror opposite and caused a biggish chip in the sink. It also cut my arm. If my dd had of been in the bath, it would have killed her, or seriously scarred her for life. Now I am panicking if I have to pay for the repairs? who do u think is liable? The shower screen was obiovusly faulty but I have never had any issues with it before. Please help am feeling sick with worry.

OP posts:
Applefallingfromthetree2 · 05/01/2014 00:02

I would think that most responsible landlords would take responsibility for this and be concerned for your well being. Don't worry, explain the situation and don't blame yourself. I can't see what you would have done that would have caused this to happen

isthereanynameavailable · 05/01/2014 00:04

It is claimable under the buildings insurance.

Are you in a house or a flat? If its a flat then there should be a block buildings policy which will cover this. If there is a factor (Scotland) or management company then they should be able to handle it without too much difficulty. It should also cover the basin as bathroom fixtures are not classed as contents but are part of the building.

The mirror might make it in to the claim but is more likely to be classed as contents.

Incidentally, shower screens are designed to go into lots of little pieces like car windscreens to minimise damage to life and limb.

And lastly, as previously mentioned, your deposit should be in a deposit scheme and not with the landlord. I'd make

isthereanynameavailable · 05/01/2014 00:05
  • sure I got the details of the scheme from the LL.
HappySunflower · 05/01/2014 00:06

Is there anything about this kind of thing covered in your tenancy agreement?
Yu could phone the shelter advice line or CAB for legal advice if you think he is likely to be difficult.

Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:06

This is the thing, I don't think I could have prevented it happening or caused it to happen either. Just don't want him to say it was me pulling it to hard as I literally just moved it gently, im not going to admit liability for anything as really don't think its my fault, but I don't know if I have to prove I didn't do it or he has to prove that I did.

OP posts:
zipzap · 05/01/2014 00:14

Hmmm. I thought hat things in rented houses were supposed to be safe - and a shower screen that shatters into 1000 dangerous shards doesn't sound like it was made out of safety glass/plastic or very safe.

I know you say that the ll doesn't care about your dd because of not fixing the damp. However, he might be more willing to care about this if you point out all the dangers and how bad it could have been and how he can prevent this from happening again (and potentially from any expensive legal claims) by fitting a nice safe alternative.

Hopefully he will be so relieved at not being sued he will sort something safe out!

Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:14

I am in a flat, but its not a block, it looks like a house from the outside with one person above, but its purpose built. I would be reasonable and pay for the mirror as I didn't have contents insurance, but cant afford to pay for everything as don't feel that its fair, and will check about my deposit too. It is through a management company, but they are not very quick in dealing with things i.e the mould situation iv had for the past year. Couldn't actually see anything about this type of thing in my tenancy agreement. I think I will contact him and see what he says and if he says its my fault then maybe ring the shelter advice line or CAB and see what they say about it x

OP posts:
BillyBanter · 05/01/2014 00:17

Give him a chance to be reasonable. This is not your fault. It is fixtures and fittings not contents. His responsibility not yours. Same with the damage to sink and mirror.

As for the other issues maybe contact Environmental health or shelter if he still won't do anything.

pippop1 · 05/01/2014 00:18

Any chance of you moving to a different flat OP when your current agreement is up?

Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:19

It shattered into about 1000 shards, my whole bathroom floor was literally an inch or two in broken glass and my arm got cut, luckily not to bad, but its a couple of inches long, but not to deep, more worried about the damage to the bathroom as really cant afford the cost of repairs, and don't want to have to pay it out of my deposit as im moving in the next year to a house with disabled adaptions and will need the money to help with moving costs and will probably be my whole deposit gone if they decide its my fault.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:21

Will give him a chance to be reasonable, as he might be nice about the whole situation, and am moving to a disabled adapted house when my tenancy agreement ends in a few months!

OP posts:
BillyBanter · 05/01/2014 00:21

Really the shower screen should be able to withstand, say, you slipping and grabbing it without it coming detached from the wall, which is not what happened here.

pippop1 · 05/01/2014 00:22

Glad to hear that you are moving pinkbunny. Good luck!

Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:27

I literally just moved it, didn't hang on it or lean on it or anything like that, im just thankful that my dd wasn't in the bath that's the main thing. And cant wait to move!! my upstairs neighbours throw parties all the time and the police are called on a weekly basis, so really cant wait to move as along with the mould and my landlords reluctance for repairs iv had enough!

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 00:28

And thank you pippop1 :) x

OP posts:
HappySunflower · 05/01/2014 01:01

In actual fact, you could claim off his public liability insurance for any injuries sustained, so if he makes a fuss it might be worth reminding him of that!

specialsubject · 05/01/2014 10:58

shower screen should be safety glass!!

as others note, you MUST have contents insurance. Many policies cover you for accidental damage to landlord property, and they all cover for fire, flood, theft etc. If these things happen it would NOT be the responsibility of this or any other landlord. Do NOT leave this vital thing until you 'get round to it'.

but I also am glad to hear you are moving.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/01/2014 11:01

If I was a LL I'd pay for all of this and be thankful that you weren't suing me!

Our shower door came off once. It had only been fitted about six months and I opened it normally and it came off the hinges. Luckily I managed to catch it but the weight of it hurt my foot. Sometimes things like this happen.

Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 11:57

I took out my home insurance policy last night so have that sorted now :) and tried ringing my LL but no answer so will leave a voicemail and see what he says

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkbunny2012 · 05/01/2014 11:57

Thanks for all your replies and for all your help :)

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 05/01/2014 12:01

I agree with zipzap. The shower screen should not have come away with normal use. Ideally the landlord should be covered with landlord insurance and would be able to claim.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread