About a month ago, I woke up to a flood in my apartment. After a few minutes, I traced the source of it to a split hose attached to that handheld-jetwash-shower-type-thingy in the bathroom. (What is that thing called anyway?) So I turned off the tap and mopped up all the water. There is a drain the bathroom floor but, annoyingly, the cover fits so snugly that it stopped the water from actually going down it.

The hallway has some cheap wood laminate flooring, which has become a bit swollen and warped from soaking up the water.

I informed the landlord and, to cut a long story short, he’s claiming that all of this is due to my negligence and therefore I should pay for repairs to the floor. We’ve exchanged a few emails and he refuses to accept my view that this is his responsibility. As it happens, I was already planning to move out in October when the lease expires. But he’s insisting that I put the flat back to it’s original condition (at my expense) if I move out. So I suppose he’s not likely to give me my deposit back without a fight.

I’d happily pay a lawyer for an hour of their time if I thought it would get me anywhere but I just get the feeling I’m in a bit of a no-win situation. Any ideas?

I thought this would be the case.

But if it makes any difference, the landlord is not a local. He's Iranian, lives in Tehran and just comes to Dubai a couple of times per year to cash my cheques.

one of my oldest mates is a dubai based property lawyer and i've another mate here who is a landlord. i can fire them an email to see if it's something worth pursuing.

by the way, i do believe the offending item is called an arse shower.

I wonder how much the fixtures and fittings are worth?!!

If you want the 'proper' name of the Johnson Hose for your communications, it's a shattaf

He's a nobody. Just a private Iranian investor with a property in Dubai Marina. What did you have in mind?

Nothing in mind so to speak, but being in construction means that we get to deal with some folk who have a little bit of clout with such things.

Ref your timber flooring, it will warp and lift when dry- it can possibly be saved with the correct secret fix nails and copious adhesive- not the correct line of remedial work, but if it looks passable, it is passable.

When work dies sown a little- end of the week, i will come and have a look. If needs be im sure i can find some timber from somewhere, and get it re-laid, so dont panic- what sort of area are we talking about? I have some some surplus wood flooring on a boat coming from belguim as we speak.

I am originally Iranian and speak the lingo. If you want any offensive words, or want to cuss his mum, let me know