Landlord refusing access to use shower

GreeBo

So I've just moved into the house in renting and noticed there was no shower curtain in the main bathroom.
Contacted the ll via the management company to be told that they don't want us using that shower as it will damage the walls and the kitchen underneath!
We should all just use the ensuite!


There was never any mention of this when viewing or signing the lease.

Any advice?

Pipmae

No advice but holy moly some landlords are absolute assholes. I mean WTF????

Black_Knight

Use it. Landlords job to maintain the house. He's fully aware of it and won't fix it. No sympathy for him.

In all seriousness though. Ask the landlord to fix it. He's obliged to, as you can't be expected to use an ensuite as the main shower (privacy, conflicting schedules etc). If he won't contact PRTB I guess

Sinus pain

Could you buy a shower curtain nd just use it

GreeBo

bathroom is tiled floor to ceiling so fixing a curtain rail will be noticeable, also the far wall is slanted so a simple end to end rail won't work.

Dunno why they don't just install a small glass door like the rest of the planet.

_Brian

GreeBo wrote: »

bathroom is tiled floor to ceiling so fixing a curtain rail will be noticeable, also the far wall is slanted so a simple end to end rail won't work.

Dunno why they don't just install a small glass door like the rest of the planet.

Get one of the extendable curtain rails, spring loaded with rubber ends. It won’t damage the tiles as no drilling, you can run shower rail on this.

Black_Knight

_Brian wrote: »

Get one of the extendable curtain rails, spring loaded with rubber ends. It won’t damage the tiles as no drilling, you can run shower rail on this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/InterDesign-Medium-1-Piece-Curtain-Tension/dp/B006J23OF6

harr

GreeBo wrote: »

bathroom is tiled floor to ceiling so fixing a curtain rail will be noticeable, also the far wall is slanted so a simple end to end rail won't work.

Dunno why they don't just install a small glass door like the rest of the planet.

Use something like this...so need to fix the rail to the wall with screws and is easily removed when needed..this with a light shower curtain would cost under €30.. he should be fixing the issue though and I wouldn’t be happy using the other shower.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4595078/Trail/searchtext%3ESHOWER+RAIL+.htm

Sleeper12

Pipmae wrote:

No advice but holy moly some landlords are absolute assholes. I mean WTF????

Some are. Totally agree. I see horrible landlords on a daily or weekly basis but they are still in the minority. There are some decent ones too

Black_Knight wrote:

Use it. Landlords job to maintain the house. He's fully aware of it and won't fix it. No sympathy for him.

Bad advice imo. Landlord has stated what will happen if it's used. Do you not think he's the type to bill any damage to the tenant?

Black_Knight

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Some are. Totally agree. I see horrible landlords on a daily or weekly basis but they are still in the minority. There are some decent ones too


Bad advice imo. Landlord has stated what will happen if it's used. Do you not think he's the type to bill any damage to the tenant?

So just bend over and take it?

GreeBo

_Brian wrote: »

Get one of the extendable curtain rails, spring loaded with rubber ends. It won’t damage the tiles as no drilling, you can run shower rail on this.

One wall has severe slope so that won't work either.

Tempted to buy one of those tri fold crappy ones and silicone it to the tiles

Sleeper12

Black_Knight wrote:

So just bend over and take it?

Tennant is responsible for the damage they cause. Damage can run into thousands. Tennant will end up paying for any damage already done downstairs even though it was caused before they used the shower. You can see the type of landlord he is. He will make a profit on the deal in the end

File a complaint would be the correct way forward

Effects

Any pictures of the setup so we can advise?

Graham

Sleeper12 wrote: »

File a complaint would be the correct way forward

What sort of complaint, and who with?

Sleeper12

Graham wrote:

What sort of complaint, and who with?

To the landlord in writing. If repairs aren't made in a reasonable reasonable period of time after writing to the landlord tenant can give notice to leave.

Using the shower & causing damage is a bad idea imo

ozmo

GreeBo wrote: »

they don't want us using that shower as it will damage the walls and the kitchen underneath!

Maybe it leaks.. hence the warning about the kitchen underneath?

Graham

Nothing is broken, OP has been asked not to use the 2nd shower.

It sucks, and personally I'd agree it's pretty unreasonable. At the same time I'm pretty sure there are no statutory rights to a 2nd shower in a rental property.

The only basis for complaint maybe if the property was advertised as having 2 showers, in which case there may be an argument for false advertising. Even then I"m not sure who you'd complain to.

turdball

Graham wrote: »

Nothing is broken, OP has been asked not to use the 2nd shower.

It sucks, and personally I'd agree it's pretty unreasonable. At the same time I'm pretty sure there are no statutory rights to a 2nd shower in a rental property.

The only basis for complaint maybe if the property was advertised as having 2 showers, in which case there may be an argument for false advertising. Even then I"m not sure who you'd complain to.

Well the Bath or pipes or broken if it will cause damage to the kitchen. Complain to the Landlord and then to the PTRB is my advice. Probably an expensive fix as the Landlord hasn't fixed it.
If you have any friends that are plumbers ask them to take a friendly look for you so you get a better idea.

Graham

turdball wrote: »

Well the Bath or pipes or broken. Complain to the Landlord and then to the PTRB is my advice. Probably an expensive fix as the Landlord hasn't fixed it.
If you have any friends that are plumbers ask them to take a friendly look for you so you get a better idea.

Or water dribbles down the side of the bath making it unsuitable for use with a shower.

I've absolutely no idea on what basis the RTB would get involved?

turdball

Graham wrote: »

Or water dribbles down the side of the bath making it unsuitable for use with a shower.

I've absolutely no idea on what basis the RTB would get involved?

The OP was only told after moving in and presumed could use it.

Its like saying you can't use the kitchen sink and there's running water in the taps in the bathroom to do the washing up.
Should be a communal Bathroom.

Graham

turdball wrote: »

The OP was only told after moving in and presumed could use it.

I honestly can't see how that would fall anywhere near the remit of the RTB.

Dakotabigone

Black_Knight wrote: »

So just bend over and take it?

Wow, you really can say what you want an get away with it because you’re a mod.

Sleeper12

turdball wrote:

The OP was only told after moving in and presumed could use it.

OP can move out if landlord does not repair it.

Landlord cannot be forced to repair it. If it was the only shower that would be different because the building wouldn't meet minimum standards. If there is a 2nd shower landlord is covered.

Unless op has cheap rent I'd move out. The quality of the landlord isn't going to improve over time. To me this is a sign of things to come

turdball

Graham wrote: »

I honestly can't see how that would fall anywhere near the remit of the RTB.

Well its worth a shot! If they get back saying nothing they can do fair enough.

GreeBo

The shower itself works and there are no plumbing issues, she basically just doesn't want us making a mess.
We are allowed to use it to clean the bath, which is nice of her.

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

All this can be yours too for 2800/month!

turdball

GreeBo wrote: »

The shower itself works and there are no plumbing issues, she basically just doesn't want us making a mess.
We are allowed to use it to clean the bath, which is nice of her.

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

All this can be yours too for 2800/month!

Work away then, f em

Graham

GreeBo wrote: »

The shower itself works and there are no plumbing issues, she basically just doesn't want us making a mess.
We are allowed to use it to clean the bath, which is nice of her.

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

All this can be yours too for 2800/month!

I don't think you'd come under the remit of the RTB or the residential tenancies act.

If I'm correct, that would also mean you don't have the obligations a tenant would normally have around notice periods, payment of rent etc.

Eric Cartman

GreeBo wrote: »

The shower itself works and there are no plumbing issues, she basically just doesn't want us making a mess.
We are allowed to use it to clean the bath, which is nice of her.

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

All this can be yours too for 2800/month!

so its not a water supply or drainage issue, i bet the caulking between the bath and the wall / tiles has just eroded. could you upload a pic of the bath/shower setup, it might be a piss easy fix for under a 10er you could do yourself.

Sleeper12

GreeBo wrote:

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

This is good news.

GreeBo wrote:

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

Dishwasher isn't a necessity (in my home it is) and again it doesn't have to be repaired.

Heat pumps are good in new builds. Many older homes get them retrofitted and they can be a disaster even if they don't break down. They will struggle to heat the home without excellent insulation


I'm glad it's a short let. Hope you have better luck in your next place

Eric Cartman

GreeBo wrote: »

The shower itself works and there are no plumbing issues, she basically just doesn't want us making a mess.
We are allowed to use it to clean the bath, which is nice of her.

It's a short term let, 3 months btw

We also don't have a working dishwasher and the fancy heat pump dies every night (it literally just went again) which is not fun when it's -2 C outside.

All this can be yours too for 2800/month!

is it possible theres a timer on the heat pump ?
are you paying your own bills no matter what amount they are ?
is it a completely seperate property only you have access to ?

Gael23

I would push the management company on this

OP - count your blessings, you've only three months with this bad landlord.

Worth negotiating with the management company, aiming for a partial refund: be as politely irritating and doggedly determined as possible and specify about misleading advertising and contract. Both parties signed a contract for a 2 bath apartment, but you (due to misleading advertising and contract facilitated by management company/agents) you only received a 1 bath and are enduring both inconvenience, monetary loss and unanticipated lost time sorting the matter out.

GreeBo

Caulking etc around the bath is fine, she is worried that the slanted wall/roof at the end of the bath is gong to get wet, but it would be pretty difficult to get it wet since its a bath length away and it is NOT a power shower, pressure is pathetic in whole house.

It's a new build, approx 5 years old, but clearly designed by an idiot.

Main bathroom has no storage or mirror and no place to put one due to slanty wall.

No timer on heat pump, i think it just needs a service and the cold weather is to much for it at the moment. The LL keeps seconding how to use nest and ignoring the fact there is no bloody power.

Can't wait to get out tbh.

ted1

Black_Knight wrote: »

Use it. Landlords job to maintain the house. He's fully aware of it and won't fix it. No sympathy for him.

In all seriousness though. Ask the landlord to fix it. He's obliged to, as you can't be expected to use an ensuite as the main shower (privacy, conflicting schedules etc). If he won't contact PRTB I guess

Maybe it’s not broken.
Op is it a bath with a shower hose ? Is the wall fully tiled? Or half tiled

ted1

GreeBo wrote: »

Caulking etc around the bath is fine, she is worried that the slanted wall/roof at the end of the bath is gong to get wet, but it would be pretty difficult to get it wet since its a bath length away and it is NOT a power shower, pressure is pathetic in whole house.

It's a new build, approx 5 years old, but clearly designed by an idiot.

Main bathroom has no storage or mirror and no place to put one due to slanty wall.

No timer on heat pump, i think it just needs a service and the cold weather is to much for it at the moment. The LL keeps seconding how to use nest and ignoring the fact there is no bloody power.

Can't wait to get out tbh.

Are heat pumps meant to have timers ? The response tine is very slow so they are meant to be just left on

ted1

turdball wrote: »

Well the Bath or pipes or broken if it will cause damage to the kitchen. Complain to the Landlord and then to the PTRB is my advice. Probably an expensive fix as the Landlord hasn't fixed it.
If you have any friends that are plumbers ask them to take a friendly look for you so you get a better idea.

It mightn’t be tiled fully as it want designed for showers so the water will get in to the wall

GreeBo

Shower/bath area is tiled floor to ceiling with different tiles than the rest of the bathroom (which only come up to waist height) so to me at least, its clear its meant for a shower.

The shower arm fixed to the wall also leads me to believe this!

Franz Von Peppercorn

Sleeper12 wrote: »

OP can move out if landlord does not repair it.

Landlord cannot be forced to repair it. If it was the only shower that would be different because the building wouldn't meet minimum standards. If there is a 2nd shower landlord is covered.

Unless op has cheap rent I'd move out. The quality of the landlord isn't going to improve over time. To me this is a sign of things to come

Moving out is giving in. Never a solution.

Are people sure that an en-suite satisfies the requirements, even in a one bed.

GreeBo

Forgot to take a photo this morning, but here are ones from other advertised houses.
The first is from the same design as the one we are in, showing the slanted room.
the second shows how the shower/bath area is specifically tiled

Sleeper12

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Moving out is giving in. Never a solution.

Are people sure that an en-suite satisfies the requirements, even in a one bed.

Definitely


Minimum standards are just that minimum. I've thought for years that they should be improved so the likes of this joker wouldn't get away with this. Improving minimum standards wouldn't effect most landlords as they run a tight ship as is.

GreeBo

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Definitely


Minimum standards are just that minimum. I've thought for years that they should be improved so the likes of this joker wouldn't get away with this. Improving minimum standards wouldn't effect most landlords as they run a tight ship as is.

Confirmed, minimum standards are 1 bath OR shower between 2 flats or between 4 individual bedsits.

Welcome to 2019 everybody.:rolleyes:

circadian

€2,800 a month. Jesus OP I feel for you, I really do. This is everything that's wrong with this country at the minute. You can mortgage a whole house for less but because of the price of rent you can't get anything for a mortgage.

You're lucky it's only a 3 month lease and I wish you all the best in your next place. Shocking stuff.

GreeBo

circadian wrote: »

€2,800 a month. Jesus OP I feel for you, I really do. This is everything that's wrong with this country at the minute. You can mortgage a whole house for less but because of the price of rent you can't get anything for a mortgage.

You're lucky it's only a 3 month lease and I wish you all the best in your next place. Shocking stuff.

If it was just the two of us it would be bearable, but we have a 7month old so 14C in the middle of the night is not good.

circadian

GreeBo wrote: »

If it was just the two of us it would be bearable, but we have a 7month old so 14C in the middle of the night is not good.

Yeah that's unacceptable. Until you're sorted I'd recommend a gro-bag for the child. We keep our home on the cool side and both our kids prefer it that way, the youngest still wears their gro-bag, they love it.

Pelvis

Unless it's in writing that you are forbidden to use the shower, then work away. Stick a towel down, be grand.

Sleeper12

Pelvis wrote: »

Unless it's in writing that you are forbidden to use the shower, then work away. Stick a towel down, be grand.

It would seem that it's ok to run water in the bath itself. The problem is it's leaking into the walls. This could be where wall meet the bath but if that were the case a blob of silicon would sort it for awhile. It seems in this case that its getting in through the tiling further up the wall. The grout is failing and itls like a sponge now. Putting a towel around the bath won't do anything.



Landlord told them not to use it. If they now use it they will pay for damage.



Not having a dig at anyone but with all the "use it anyway" comments I'm not surprised that so many complain on other threads when the landlord doesn't refund the deposit.


Landlord is being a dick, no arguments there but OP is in a bind here. They would be crazy to use the shower after being warned not to

Del2005

GreeBo wrote: »

Shower/bath area is tiled floor to ceiling with different tiles than the rest of the bathroom (which only come up to waist height) so to me at least, its clear its meant for a shower.

The shower arm fixed to the wall also leads me to believe this!

The problem is that bad builders tile with the bath empty so when a person gets in and has a shower the bath separates from the tiling and water leaks.

The OP will loose their deposit if they "damage" the property by applying sealant and that's not even guaranteed to stop the leak if the grouting isn't done correctly. Sounds like a cowboy builder screwed a cowboy landlord.

Why is it necessary for 3 people, 1 not able to shower, to have 2 showers?

ted1

Del2005 wrote: »

The problem is that bad builders tile with the bath empty so when a person gets in and has a shower the bath separates from the tiling and water leaks.

The OP will loose their deposit if they "damage" the property by applying sealant and that's not even guaranteed to stop the leak if the grouting isn't done correctly. Sounds like a cowboy builder screwed a cowboy landlord.

Why is it necessary for 3 people, 1 not able to shower, to have 2 showers?

Yep always fill the bath before you seal it

marieholmfan

<snip>

Cuddlesworth

Could you apply to the RTB arguing that the removal of advertised services after the contract started, would justify a return of some rent?

Graces7

Del2005 wrote: »

The problem is that bad builders tile with the bath empty so when a person gets in and has a shower the bath separates from the tiling and water leaks.

The OP will loose their deposit if they "damage" the property by applying sealant and that's not even guaranteed to stop the leak if the grouting isn't done correctly. Sounds like a cowboy builder screwed a cowboy landlord.

Why is it necessary for 3 people, 1 not able to shower, to have 2 showers?

was wondering that myself AND a bath to use too . Not necessary at all