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Landlord won't pay for repairs

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  • 26-11-2017 8:26pm
    #1
    saraem1iy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    Hi everyone,

    I'm having an issue with my Landlord paying for a repair of a shower. Basically as I was in the shower last night I slid the door closed and it came off of one of the rollers, somehow the force made the glass shatter, cutting my hand and feet in the process.

    The Landlord will fix it, however he says it is my responsibility to pay for it. Surely as it was under the strains of normal use, and because it was a facility that came with the property when the Lease was signed, it is the Landlord's responsibility to pay for it?

    Any help is much appreciated!
    Tagged:


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    #2
    Bob24
    Registered Users Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    I’m not sure who’s responsible, but I think if I was to pay for it i would say I’ll have it organised myself. If they know they’re not paying th landlord are likely to go for the first and easiest solution they find which surely won’t be the cheapest on.


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    #3
    Wabbit Ears
    Registered Users Posts: 3,043 ✭✭✭Wabbit Ears


    If my tenant smashed a shower door I'd expect them to pay for it. The version of events you describe simply aren't credible.

    It just slipped off a roller and the shower door panel just simply exploded. Just like that.


    What I'm reading, is "I broke the shower door and expect the landlord to pay for it because *insert barely believable reason why its his fault*"


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    #4
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,967 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    OP you inspected the premises when you moved in. You've used the shower and shower door since yet you didn't report any problems to the landlord. It's your responsibility to report these issues before they get to the point where they would just break like that.


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    #5
    saraem1iy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭saraem1iy


    Wabbit Ears wrote: »
    If my tenant smashed a shower door I'd expect them to pay for it. The version of events you describe simply aren't credible.

    It just slipped off a roller and the shower door panel just simply exploded. Just like that.


    What I'm reading, is "I broke the shower door and expect the landlord to pay for it because *insert barely believable reason why its his fault*"

    I don't care if it's not credible - it is what happened. It turns out the rollers are rusty, so the shower installed was not fit for purpose to begin with.


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    #6
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,035 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Wabbit Ears wrote: »
    The version of events you describe simply aren't credible.

    It just slipped off a roller and the shower door panel just simply exploded. Just like that.
    Google shower door exploded and see what comes up.

    For instance, this:

    http://www.thejournal.ie/shattered-shower-door-boy-injured-2723617-Apr2016/


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    #7
    saraem1iy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭saraem1iy


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    OP you inspected the premises when you moved in. You've used the shower and shower door since yet you didn't report any problems to the landlord. It's your responsibility to report these issues before they get to the point where they would just break like that.

    There weren't any problems with it - this is the first instance it had jammed.


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    #8
    handlemaster
    Registered Users Posts: 6,003 ✭✭✭handlemaster


    OP you broke the door. Pay for it. There is no ifs and buts.


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    #9
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    saraem1iy wrote: »
    There weren't any problems with it - this is the first instance it had jammed.

    Document your injuries and send them to your landlord. If he isn’t too keen on helping you pass them on to a personal injuries solicitor and see what they say.


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    #10
    AvonEnniskerry
    Registered Users Posts: 354 ✭✭AvonEnniskerry


    OnDraught wrote:
    Document your injuries and send them to your landlord. If he isn’t too keen on helping you pass them on to a personal injuries solicitor and see what they say.


    Technically I suppose he/she could make an insurance claim for any injuries but all of these instances make for a very poor relationship between you and your landlord which will likely do you no favours in the long run.


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    #11
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    AvonEnniskerry wrote: »
    Technically I suppose he/she could make an insurance claim for any injuries but all of these instances make for a very poor relationship between you and your landlord which will likely do you no favours in the long run.

    If the landlord won’t fix the issue thus causing even more potential damage to their bathroom I’d be inclined to think they aren’t going to be the most reasonable or attentive landlord going anyway.


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    #12
    percy212
    Registered Users Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭percy212


    Get a solicitor. Personal injuries cost landlords plenty. What a prick.


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    #13
    RHJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 925 ✭✭✭RHJ


    This post has been deleted.


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    #14
    hawkelady
    Registered Users Posts: 1,357 ✭✭✭hawkelady


    OnDraught wrote: »
    saraem1iy wrote: »
    There weren't any problems with it - this is the first instance it had jammed.

    Document your injuries and send them to your landlord. If he isn’t too keen on helping you pass them on to a personal injuries solicitor and see what they say.

    Is this what it's come to ?? God almighty , do you believe that the tenant is in no way responsible whatsoever ?? OP - are you adamant that you won't be repairing the door you broke?? How much would a replacement cost?
    You say it jammed , you must have given it some jerk for it to smash to smithereens and yet you think you're not responsible at all???


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    #15
    0ph0rce0
    Registered Users Posts: 3,929 ✭✭✭0ph0rce0


    Happened to me the other week in my own house. Pulled the sliding door shut.

    Came off the rails, Solid glass door fell as I couldn't hold it up with the weight and it shattered everywhere. Fairly common to be fair when in use daily, Screws come loose on the clamp on the glass or the roller just pops out.

    So it does happen.

    To be honest If I was renting and something broke I'd be ringing the landlord, But if I was the one that pulled the door off and it smashed I'd say fair enough that was me.


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    #16
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    hawkelady wrote: »
    Is this what it's come to ?? God almighty , do you believe that the tenant is in no way responsible whatsoever ?? OP - are you adamant that you won't be repairing the door you broke?? How much would a replacement cost?
    You say it jammed , you must have given it some jerk for it to smash to smithereens and yet you think you're not responsible at all???

    If the landlord is going to be a prick I see no problem in being a prick back. What he should have done is apologised profusely and arranged to have the door repaired at his tenants earliest convenience.

    If the shower door jumped the rail it was not fit for purpose and is the landlords responsibility.


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    #17
    hawkelady
    Registered Users Posts: 1,357 ✭✭✭hawkelady


    OnDraught wrote: »
    hawkelady wrote: »
    Is this what it's come to ?? God almighty , do you believe that the tenant is in no way responsible whatsoever ?? OP - are you adamant that you won't be repairing the door you broke?? How much would a replacement cost?
    You say it jammed , you must have given it some jerk for it to smash to smithereens and yet you think you're not responsible at all???

    If the landlord is going to be a prick I see no problem in being a prick back. What he should have done is apologised profusely and arranged to have the door repaired at his tenants earliest convenience.

    If the shower door jumped the rail it was not fit for purpose and is the landlords responsibility.

    You think the LL is a prick ?? How so???


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    #18
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    hawkelady wrote: »
    You think the LL is a prick ?? How so???

    I'd suggest reading the first post in this thread.

    If you suffered cut hands and feet in someone else's property I doubt you would be running for your wallet to fix their faulty shower door.


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    #19
    syndrome777
    Registered Users Posts: 223 ✭✭syndrome777


    0ph0rce0 wrote: »
    Happened to me the other week in my own house. Pulled the sliding door shut.

    Came off the rails, Solid glass door fell as I couldn't hold it up with the weight and it shattered everywhere. Fairly common to be fair when in use daily, Screws come loose on the clamp on the glass or the roller just pops out.

    So it does happen.

    To be honest If I was renting and something broke I'd be ringing the landlord, But if I was the one that pulled the door off and it smashed I'd say fair enough that was me.

    this is why plastic is always a better option here

    you never know in how bad of a shape something is, especially in rented accommodation

    if I was the LL I would he scared of personal injury suit and replace the door myself...with a plastic one this time

    Fair enough if she took something and thrown it through a closed window/door or even broke this by any other way except normal use

    but normal use and deteriorated dangerous glass door....no way I would pay


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    #20
    hawkelady
    Registered Users Posts: 1,357 ✭✭✭hawkelady


    OnDraught wrote: »
    hawkelady wrote: »
    You think the LL is a prick ?? How so???

    I'd suggest reading the first post in this thread.

    If you suffered cut hands and feet in someone else's property I doubt you would be running for your wallet to fix their faulty shower door.

    Maybe you should re read it , I see the LL is going to fix the new door when the tenant pays for the door .. reasonable to me.

    I also assume the tenant has had showers in the past there without him having to pull the door so hard it's come off the runner and ended up smashed !!
    Maybe when the tenant noticed that the door was stiff or not closing , he should have investigated the reason more closely rather than going in like a bull and reefing it ... tenant should pay for new door. Op, are you going to stop showering now until the landlord pays for a new one?


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    #21
    DubInTheWest
    Registered Users Posts: 408 ✭✭DubInTheWest


    This would be the usual with a lousy landlord. Just get you into a house with numerous issues and then turn it on the tenant to pay for repairs that he should be paying. The tenant ends up paying fearing they will be evicted. A good landlord would weigh up the agenda and if something broke legitimately they would get it fixed up.

    I've seen some crazy things over the years, landlords wanting tenants to replace windows that were broken when they moved in, taps there were leaking from under the sink, old fuse boxes that had blown to kaput. These things should be fixed by LL's. If a tenant wrecked the couch or breaks items then the tenant should pay. If a rusty roller caused the door to come off the hing, the LL is responsible end of. Will he pay is the question.


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    #22
    elperello
    Registered Users Posts: 14,604 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    No need for any drama.
    The LL can write off the cost of repair.
    Job done.


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    #23
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    hawkelady wrote: »
    Maybe you should re read it , I see the LL is going to fix the new door when the tenant pays for the door .. reasonable to me.

    If the landlord shares your attitude I'd give up trying to deal with them over the issue and let a solicitor do my bidding for me and my injuries. I'd say there would be a quick correction in what they think is reasonable.


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    #24
    Blue bull
    Registered Users Posts: 40 ✭Blue bull


    How dare you? It's always the landlords fault, isnt it? I look after over 30 properties and if a tenant broke a shower door, they would pay for it. They dont brake that easy. You attitude sickens me " get a good solicitor and make him pay". Disgusting..


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    #25
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,967 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    elperello wrote:
    No need for any drama. The LL can write off the cost of repair. Job done.

    Nope. The landlord might be able to write off the a small portion of the cost. It's not like a business according to revenue and they only allow I think 20 percent.

    Anyway its not the landlords problem. Op will pay, even if it comes out of the deposit. The only way to avoid that is to open a dispute now with rtb.


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    #26
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    Blue bull wrote: »
    How dare you? It's always the landlords fault, isnt it? I look after over 30 properties and if a tenant broke a shower door, they would pay for it. They dont brake that easy. You attitude sickens me " get a good solicitor and make him pay". Disgusting..

    Delighted to hear it. I'm glad you don't look after mine. I have a decent landlord who would have this fixed on him quick smart.

    It's telling that you have no concern for the tenant and their injuries.


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    #27
    shaunr68
    Registered Users Posts: 555 ✭✭✭shaunr68


    If the shower door was operated with normal force such as would be expected in everyday use then I'd say the landlord is liable.

    If the OP slipped in the shower, grabbed the door and dragged it off the roller or otherwise used excessive force then it would be the OP's responsibility to put right.

    Taking the original post at face value it would seem that the landlord should pay up but of course we don't know what was said. I'd suggest showing him the rusty rollers and calmly explaining that you didn't grab the door or force it in any way. If he won't pay up then weigh up whether you should just buy a shower curtain for now and let him fix it when your tenancy ends. If on the other hand you fell against it or accidentally dragged it off its hinges then you should put it right. All IMHO :)


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    #28
    GGTrek
    Registered Users Posts: 834 ✭✭✭GGTrek


    OnDraught wrote: »
    saraem1iy wrote: »
    There weren't any problems with it - this is the first instance it had jammed.

    Document your injuries and send them to your landlord. If he isn’t too keen on helping you pass them on to a personal injuries solicitor and see what they say.
    I had a tenant who I was evicting for anti-social behaviour that tried to pull a fast one like you suggested, the insurance adjuster and insurance solicitor had a field trip on him (they refused any settlement) and his dumb solicitor (and he was evicted of course!): what you are suggesting without having any evidence is simple and pure blackmail. I mean your quote and parts of this thread are exactly the problem with tenants in Ireland: it is never their fault! I had a tenant painting over electrical sockets: he had the audacity of saying that it was not his fault!

    I suggest the OP to avoid at all costs the blackmail tactics suggested by the quoted text which are a sure trip to eviction (sooner rather than later) and discuss reasonably with his landlord the cost of the shower repair (even it was an accident), suggest splitting the cost 50/50 for example.


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    #29
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,967 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    Op views the property then moves in. From that point on the tenant has an obligation to report any maintenance issues. The landlord can't replace rusty wheels if the tenant doesn't bring it to his attention.

    It's possible that the shower door is 30 years old and was due to be retired and it's possible that the Op was a bit heavy handed. None of us here can tell for sure.

    Op if landlord won't pay and you believe that he should, the only option is to open a dispute. Take lots of photos of the wheels and try keep one for the dispute. The arbitrator is the only one you will need to convince. There's no point getting more stressed trying to convince us.


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    #30
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    GGTrek wrote: »
    I had a tenant who I was evicting for anti-social behaviour that tried to pull a fast one like you suggested, the insurance adjuster and insurance solicitor had a field trip on him (they refused any settlement) and his dumb solicitor (and he was evicted of course!): what you are suggesting without having any evidence is simple and pure blackmail. I mean your quote and parts of this thread are exactly the problem with tenants in Ireland: it is never their fault! I had a tenant painting over electrical sockets: he had the audacity of saying that it was not his fault!

    I suggest the OP to avoid at all costs the blackmail tactics suggested by the quoted text which are a sure trip to eviction (sooner rather than later) and discuss reasonably with his landlord the cost of the shower repair (even it was an accident), suggest splitting the cost 50/50 for example.

    That's hilarious. Well done.


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    #31
    OnDraught
    Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭OnDraught


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    Op views the property then moves in. From that point on the tenant has an obligation to report any maintenance issues. The landlord can't replace rusty wheels if the tenant doesn't bring it to his attention.

    It's possible that the shower door is 30 years old and was due to be retired and it's possible that the Op was a bit heavy handed. None of us here can tell for sure.

    Op if landlord won't pay and you believe that he should, the only option is to open a dispute. Take lots of photos of the wheels and try keep one for the dispute. The arbitrator is the one you will need to convince. There's no point getting more stressed trying to convince us.

    Do most decent landlords not carry out regular inspections to ensure the property is up to standards. Sounds like they didn't in this case.


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