Thread: Landlord not fixing a leaking Bath?

Landlord not fixing a leaking Bath?

In our contract for our house it states: Landlord agrees to carry out repairing obligations as required by section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

Our bath has been leaking through the roof to downstairs for the last 3 months. Can anyone tell me if this is enough to terminate our contract so that we can move out?

Clause from the Act:
1(b) to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwellinghouse for the supply of water, gas and electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences, but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity).

So obviously he hasn't done this nor seems like he intends to so i presume this is a breach of the contract. Can we move out next month before the rent is due? Or do we need to give him some sort of notice?

Your a touch early for April Fools!

Recorded delivery letter to your LL giving 10 days to sort problem out otherwise you will repair yourself and deduct from rent.

If after 10 days, no joy, get three quotes for repair and go with the cheapest and deduct from rent.

Have a look at the shelter website, theres a helpful section on using rent for repairs.

And if your still in any doubt, no, you cannot use this to end your contract.

OK,

I have some more details that might change it a bit as it is a Safety risk. Where the water drips from the roof, it lands on the stair case that goes up to the second floor where the bathroom is. Under these stairs is the Mains power board for the house. We have a girl in our house who has a pacemaker and it is dangerous for her if she was to get a electric shock.

Would this be enough to terminate the lease? Also there are other problems with this house E.G. Lights that have blown (Not the bulbs the lights) and not been fixed for the last 2 months and we have had to buy lamps.

Thanks

You can't just terminate your tenancy for this.

If you are on a periodic tenancy then you can give the proper notice needed to end a periodic tenancy and then move out. If you move out before the notice period is up you will still need to pay the rent due to the end of the notice.

If you are on a fixed term tenancy then you would be expected to stay to the end of the fixed term. If you move out before then your landlord could and is likely to claim for the rent for the rest of the period. This could include court action against you.

If it went to court you could counter claim for disrepair but there is no guarantee that you would win and the judge would ask you what you did to resolve the situation such as contact with landlord, paying for repairs yourself and claiming money back, contacting environmental health at the Council, etc.

The best thing to do is what MrShed and Planner have suggested.