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DD had an accident earlier. Help me with what to say to the landlord.

9 replies

suiledonne · 19/01/2010 12:36

Moved into this house in the summer. 10 year old huge bungalow - we were attracted by the space, the garden and the fact that there is an office which DH needs as he is self employed.

House looked great on the surface but since we moved in there has been ongoing problems.

There is a leak in one of the bedroom ceilings when it rains heavily. It took weeks for the landlord to get someone to deal with it and as soon as it rained again it was clear the problem is still there. This has been ongoing since before Christmas and the landlord says he is waiting on the roofer. Meanwhile we have had to move out of that bedroom.

When we moved in the fireplace was packed with papers. When we removed it is was full of ash and clearly had not been touched since the last tenants. When we cleaned it out there was a lot of damage visible which the landlord should have been aware of. As it was he left it to us to find someone to do the repair and it took weeks to get it sorted.

Then today dd1 (3) was in the bathroom when I was settling dd2 for a nap. I heard a huge thump and a scream. When I got to the bathroom dd1 was trapped in a hole when the surround of the bath had fallen through.

Underneath it is all damp and rotting. Someone had tiled around the bath on some sort of chipboard or something that had clearly rotted when wet.

I have told dd not to climb up there before but she was trying to reach something.

She is lucky she was not seriously injured, just scrapes and bruises and badly shaken.

I need to talk to the landlord about getting things sorted. I'm not sure what he is responsible for though. We have rented different places for years and never had problems like this.

DH has the contract filed away so I can't find it til he gets home.

I feel like ringing the landlord and giving him an earful.

OP posts:
FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 19/01/2010 12:40

Did your dd stand on the bath side to get something? It isn't relevant really as the land lord should have fixed everything and checked it all before renting, but if it wasn't obvious he couldn't. I think I would be looking for a new place to live.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 19/01/2010 12:40

Ring him and give him a timescale to sort any outstanding repairs before you call in Environmental Health. Local councils have a team responsible for standards in private rented property and will come to inspect, and force the landlord to carry out any repairs they deem necessary - which may well be above and beyond what a tenant would ask for.

I hope your DD is ok, what a shock for he and you.

HerHonesty · 19/01/2010 13:00

christ on a bike.

dont phone in case you loose it. Write down in a letter ALL the issues and what you want done about it, plus a timeframe. Quite honestly as well given one bedroom is not useable ask him to suggest an appropriate refund on the rent.

Look into what local council can do but would go the direct route first.

suiledonne · 19/01/2010 13:03

Thanks for the responses.

I really don't want to move if we can get things sorted. I want to be able to ask for what we need/are entitled to in a way that doesn't cause us to feel the landlord wants rid of us or anything IYKWIM

We are hoping to buy within the next 18 months or so and the move this time was awful, with two small kids. DD1 found it very upsetting and took a while to settle in.

Yess, dd climbed on to the bath surround but she is tiny, not much more than 2 stone. An adult leaning on the surround getting in or out would probably put more pressure on.

I had a look at the damaged bit - the tiles are stuck on to some kind of cardboard backing with no support underneath - it was an accident waiting to happen.

Could he say we are responsible as dd climbed up on to it?

OP posts:
onepieceoflollipop · 19/01/2010 13:07

I have only skim read this but surely it could just have easily have happened if she (or anyone) had been climbing into the bath, drying their feet on the edge or whatever.

Seriously, I don't think that the fact your dd may have been climbing on it, rather than into it, is relevant. If you even hint that this may have been the case then your landlord may well try and pin the blame on you/her.

HouseHuntingNoMore · 19/01/2010 13:24

I don't have any advice other than take photos so that you have evidence in the future if the lanlord becomes shirty. Cripes, I am so pleased your DD is ok.

RollBaubleUnderTree · 19/01/2010 13:26

Don't tell him she was climbing on it, just say someone was getting in the bath.

Or is that dishonest?

iheartdusty · 20/01/2010 14:51

this page gives advice about complaining and a summary of what the landlord must repair - it may be less than you think.

Don't let any blame be pinned on you or your DD. The real problem here is that water has leaked into the chipboard.

suiledonne · 20/01/2010 18:19

Thanks everyone. Took some photos and expecting the landlord around later.

Poor dd is nervous even going into the bathroom today.

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