What can we do re rental property please

[ArnoldBoo]

We are renting a lovely apartment, in a great part of town. Unfortunately our shower is leaking into the apartment downstairs. The owner and agent know and apparently it has been going on for years. Today it was so bad that we've decided not to use the shower again- it really looks like our floor is going to cave in.
The agent and owner know. Nothing is happening. What can we do? I do have an appointment to look at another apartment next week but its going to cost us a fortune to move and we are saving for a house deposit. It seems so unfair, but I don't want my kids falling through the floor and there is no other shower.

Have they never had anyone out to look at it?

I hope the person downstairs sues your shitty landlord. I'd see if the council can come in and look at it.

Hi, they did. He re did the seal and said if it continued they would have to look under the shower. It has continued, and gotten much much worse. We have spoken to the agent, and the downstairs neighbours are in communication with the owner. The last they heard, the owner was going to have it fixed by the start of May. Nothing has happened though. What can we do?

osbertthesyrianhamster what department of the council would I be looking for? The downstairs neighbours are truly the best neighbours we could hope for and don't deserve this!

Give notice to your land lord regarding what needs to be done and when. Then refer them to the relevant authority if it's not done satisfactorily. It's becoming unfit for human habitation.

You not feeling that you cannot safely use the shower is not what you pay your rent for.

Your landlord will delay making the necessary repairs for ever. It's been that way for years already.

Where are you ArnoldBoo ?

You need the Housing Department of the Local Authority or the Environment Department. Ask for someone to come and carry out an inspection. In Britain these are free.

If fault is found, they will contact the Land Lord and advise them of their obligation to put things right.

We had several problems with a house we rented in Britain. Some got fixed by the Land Lord. Lots didn't. As well as contacting the Local Authority, we were able to get information and a useful letter template from, 'Shelter.' OK, they are a homeless charity but are the, 'go to' for housing issues.

I would contact Shelter Scotland for advice . They have an excellent website and you can get help via a chatline too. The Landlord Registration Service at your local council might also be able to help.

Thanks everyone. We are new to renting and its been pretty shocking so far. We have rented out our house to another family,while we moved to another area for work and are renting this apartment in the mean time. Its really clear he has no plans to do anything and I am amazed that he would put us, and the people downstairs at risk. Its good to have an idea who to contact, ill get onto them on Monday.

Each council will be slightly different but if you ask for the housing team they should be able to direct you to the right folk who regulate private sector renting. Some more info here as well: www.gov.scot/policies/private-renting/regulation/

I agree with contacting the private rented sector services of your local council. They will be part of the housing department.

In smaller cities and rural areas they often know many of the local landlords. So tell them your landlords name as well as the letting agent.

Some landlords also have HMO properties for which they need a license from the Council. So they want to stay on good terms with them.

This is good to know, I would never have thought of contacting the council. I'm raging at the moment because they didn't answer our messages yesterday and we are not using the shower until we hear from them. It means I've got disgusting hair and its really bothering me! I know that sounds pathetic but I feel horrible and its putting me in a mood. I will use the shower at the gym on Monday and my kids have had a shower at SIL today so not a total disaster, but not right either.

Every landlord in Scotland needs to be registered ( not just for HMOs). If your registration is revoked you won’t be able to operate as a landlord.

Write down as much as you can recall regarding when (dates) you mentioned and to whom. Record it all. You need to start contacting the agency every day. We had the same issue and the downstairs ceiling fell in.

Hi, thanks for all your help and advice so far. I called citizens advice too, who felt that action should have been take 24 hours - 3 days from the reporting of the incident.

After a lot of calling and emailing the agent, a plumber came yesterday and said he didn't know when he would have time to squeeze in the work.

So... we called the agent. No answer, we emailed the agent, no answer. 9 am today I called the agent, no answer, I emailed explaining that I had called and was asking for a timeline and that I would call again at 16.00. At 16.00 I called from my mobile, my house phone and my husbands phone- no answer.... so I wrote an email explaining that I had contacted citizens advice. Immediately an email response saying a plumber would look at it again on Thursday- no timelime, just a plumber 'coming out' and very brisk tone from the agent saying she 'didn't need to hear from citizens advice'.

I hate the fact that I am happy to pay, every month on time yet they are treating me like I'm unreasonable for asking for a working shower. I've been completely polite and respectful, and they have not. I'm furious right now. I can't belive I'm going to have to take this further. Crooks.

Sorry, but that's about right. You pay your rent, in full and on time.

Them ? They don't want to pay a single penny or help or be co-operative. Seems like they are ignoring you. Which is pretty much to be expected, unfortunately.

Sorry, I know how furious you feel because I've been there. No one has ever said, 'pay the rent, bitch' to me in my life but I felt that was the attitude from the Landlord and Letting agent of the shitty house we once rented. Our criticisms and request for remedies just became a project in it's own right. All the while thinking, 'how dare you' of our Landlord.

You are right to call them crooks because IMO, it's pretty much fraud what they are doing.

Oh, and never mind their high handed attitude of, 'don't need to hear from Citizens Advice.' Cheeky bastard. Funny how quick they responded immediately though. I suspect they know something is wrong. Unfortunately, it's about now you realise what arseholes Landlord and Letting Agents can be.

They will drag their heels and fob you off until you eventually give up and move out. I realise you are not going to be evicted over this but for the record, 'revenge evictions' are illegal. Well, any eviction might not be possible presently as I forget what the current covid regs are regarding that.

You have got legal rights. The law is on your side. You would not accept being ripped off in any other circumstance would you ?

Ask your local authority Housing Department or Environment Department for an inspection. Do not advise your Landlord/letting agent that you have requested this or when it is being done. Also, if they request to be there when it's being done (if your local authority tell them or tell you to tell them) the answer is a very firm no.

You have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your rented property. That's not what is happening. Washing is a basic necessity, especially as the shower and bathroom are part of what you pay your rent for. Ask your local authority whether it's fit for human habitation.

Thanks Toffenotcoffe sadly I think you are right. Well, at least we know where we all stand now!

Is your shower fixed yet @ArnoldBoo

Have you looked at what is available elsewhere ? Obviously with other letting agents and landlords .

I know that my friend who is a LA property lawyer helped SIL to get her dd out of a rental contract when there was water literally flowing down her bedroom wall and the landlord thought that it was "enough" to put an industrial sized dehumidifier into the room which was both very noisy and took up most of the floor space

He's on holiday at the moment (staycation ) so I can't ask him which bit of the contract he said that they'd breached, but it is possible

to you for having to go through this.

It might help if the neighbours also contact the council as their property is being damaged.

Thanks everyone. A plumber is coming today and hopefully it will be resolved. Its really helped me to have your suggestions and experiences because I am so upset about this!
I have looked for something else. There's not much comes up in this area and we have two old, small, sleepy dogs that seems to put people off. I need a house deposit!

If you have the Private Residential Tenancy OP you can give ( a month’s) notice at any time.

Hi again, I've name changed but I was the OP. Still - 9 months after our first contact with the owner there is still a leak! Water flowing downstairs. We handed in our notice and guess what - the owner decides he does want to do the work! While we are still paying full rent. We have tried to negotiate and be amicable, but today the agent sent me a really shitty email with "the state of the garden is terrible something will need to be done about it"
This is the same garden that was advertised as coming with a gardener but then the owner changed his mind. Its not bad at all, just some leaves that I could sweep up. Its her cheeky bloody tone though. They are looking at moving people in here ASAP, and I doubt they will really do the work on the shower. How can I make my point? I am still to pay this month's rent and considering not, as its out last month. What do you think?

Great news that you are moving out. Please pay the rent until you leave. Galling as it is. You will one day need a reference from your letting agent or landlord. You do not need them to say that you defaulted on your last month's rent.

@toffeenotcoffee I know! Its so rubbish. We can't cook properly or wash. They are now saying they would fix the things if we let them in NOW - but we have only 7 days left of the contract, the work will take a minimum of 4 (and the workman told me much more) and they are also sending me very specific lists of how they want the apartment cleaned. I really cannot do both. So do I really have to pay for limited use of the shower and no cooker. Seems like theft to me!

Our bathroom ceiling came down because the washing machine and sink in the flat upstairs had slow leaks.

The tenants had been emailing their landlord/agent for about six months about it.

Our insurance company paid for repairs and sued upstairs. We were on good terms with the people upstairs and they gave us the emails.