No shower or bath in rental property

[BlimeyCharlie]

Hi all,

Please can anyone send a link or help with the definitive Law/Legislation that would apply to the following situation;

The Landlord of a tenanted property has decided he wants to replace the bathroom with less than a week's notice.
The bathroom has a shower over the bath, with a toilet and pedestal sink. There is no other bath or shower at the property.

The Landlord has written that the tiny hand basin and toilet in the utility room means everything is ok...
Despite asking the Landlord several times for an idea of timescale for the replacement bathroom, apparently he has "no idea". All this is in writing.

Legally, how long (if at all) can a tenant not have a shower or bath at a property, as in not have those facilities?
I read different answers, between 5-7 days, or that the Landlord is breaking the Law by not providing this even for a day.

This is planned works, not an emergency.
The Landlord and Letting 'Agent' are refusing to communicate what their Plumber has quoted in terms of timescale. Unless the Plumber really has no idea, but I find that impossible to comprehend.

I understand this could be a matter for Environmental Health, but would rather keep things amicable at this stage with access to Legislation ideally.
So far they have stalled discussions, including Hotels, Air B&B, rent reduction, who may pay, or even refuse to discuss it.
Landlord just keeps pushing for the work to start. Which has been refused on the basis that there is no information or plan so far.

Thanks in advance.

[bergclimber34]

It his their property and it does seem a bit odd he is insisting on doing work with a tenant in situ. You need a toilet surely, but as for washing facilities I really dont know, I would imagine they have to be present as does a cooker and the ability to have hot water.

[Jonmx]

HHSRS and Fitness for Human Habitation. Landlord should be stumping up for a hotel for the duration of works to my mind, or at the very least giving them a rent free period. I'd anticipate he's looking at a remortgage and is hoping a cheapy Magnet bathroom will add value. They're under no obligation to allow access, and should put in writing their concerns along with a request for rent reduction or hotel costs for the duration of works. Is it landlord managed, or agent managed?
Edit. Just spotted mention of letting agent. Ascertain whether they're members of TPO or Property Redress and let them know that regrettably, unless they receive satisfactory answers to their communication they'll be making a formal complaint with a subsequent complaint to the relevant ombudsman.

[Westy65]

I think a good place to start would be having a look at the rental agreement - this should include a section on the landlords obligations to the tenant, right of access etc. Section 11 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985, section 11, covers landlord repairing obligations.

[essayer]

To be fair if it’s Wickes or similar they’ll do it in a few days, but for that time I’d expect some recompense (gym pass with showers, etc)

[Ham_and_Jam]

As a private homeowner who has refurbished there own bathrooms it is quite normal to go without a bath / shower and even a toilet (reconnected each night) during the works.

Whilst it’s inconvenient, if you are getting a new bathroom is it not worth it? By the sounds of it you will still have basic facilities throughout.

[LooneyTunes]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Whilst it’s inconvenient, if you are getting a new bathroom is it not worth it?

Probably depends on how much the rent goes up…

[No ideas for a name]

Ham_and_Jam said:

As a private homeowner who has refurbished there own bathrooms it is quite normal to go without a bath / shower and even a toilet (reconnected each night) during the works.

Whilst it’s inconvenient, if you are getting a new bathroom is it not worth it? By the sounds of it you will still have basic facilities throughout.

It would seem some tenants complain that their landlords never do any maintenance or upgrades, and some tenants complain when they are getting improvements.

As above, as a home owner, I have just replaced a bathroom, I went without a bath for a while, and am many thousands of pounds lighter.

To be fair the short notice, and an apparent lack of a confirmed timescale might be a bit annoying, but again surely worth it?

[mac96]

I had a new bathroom a few years ago in a house with no other toilet bath or shower.
I worked with the fitter to ensure there was always a loo overnight.
Showers and loos were available at work and at the gym.

So, can't this be worked around? Seems daft for a tenant to prevent improvements . Put a landlord in a position where they have to evict to maintain, which is the worst al round.

Of course if the landlord won't talk, they are being an arse.

[98elise]

No ideas for a name said:

Ham_and_Jam said:

As a private homeowner who has refurbished there own bathrooms it is quite normal to go without a bath / shower and even a toilet (reconnected each night) during the works.

Whilst it’s inconvenient, if you are getting a new bathroom is it not worth it? By the sounds of it you will still have basic facilities throughout.

It would seem some tenants complain that their landlords never do any maintenance or upgrades, and some tenants complain when they are getting improvements.

As above, as a home owner, I have just replaced a bathroom, I went without a bath for a while, and am many thousands of pounds lighter.

To be fair the short notice, and an apparent lack of a confirmed timescale might be a bit annoying, but again surely worth it?

It's your choice though and you control the timescale.

In this case the tenant is not being given a choice, or any idea of how long it will take.

[LivLL]

Ham_and_Jam said:

As a private homeowner who has refurbished there own bathrooms it is quite normal to go without a bath / shower and even a toilet (reconnected each night) during the works.

Whilst it’s inconvenient, if you are getting a new bathroom is it not worth it? By the sounds of it you will still have basic facilities throughout.

Bit different when you are renting. When you're up to the eyeballs in mortgage debt it's fine if you want to live without a bathroom. Not when paying rent.

OP has the landlord offered anything for the period of works, ie reduction in rent or gym pass etc..?

[Vasco]

Something of an over reaction??
.
Not sure that there's a massive problem that can't be easily circumnavigated.

[paradigital]

LivLL said:

Bit different when you are renting. When you're up to the eyeballs in mortgage debt it's fine if you want to live without a bathroom. Not when paying rent

What does the level of mortgage debt have to do with it? Can homeowners that haven’t over-stretched themselves not replace their bathroom fittings? What about homeowners that are mortgage free?

Bitter much?

[CoolHands]

Waaah that nasty landlord is putting in a new bathroom for me waaaah

[119]

BlimeyCharlie said:

Hi all,

Please can anyone send a link or help with the definitive Law/Legislation that would apply to the following situation;

The Landlord of a tenanted property has decided he wants to replace the bathroom with less than a week's notice.
The bathroom has a shower over the bath, with a toilet and pedestal sink. There is no other bath or shower at the property.

The Landlord has written that the tiny hand basin and toilet in the utility room means everything is ok...
Despite asking the Landlord several times for an idea of timescale for the replacement bathroom, apparently he has "no idea". All this is in writing.

Legally, how long (if at all) can a tenant not have a shower or bath at a property, as in not have those facilities?
I read different answers, between 5-7 days, or that the Landlord is breaking the Law by not providing this even for a day.

This is planned works, not an emergency.
The Landlord and Letting 'Agent' are refusing to communicate what their Plumber has quoted in terms of timescale. Unless the Plumber really has no idea, but I find that impossible to comprehend.

I understand this could be a matter for Environmental Health, but would rather keep things amicable at this stage with access to Legislation ideally.
So far they have stalled discussions, including Hotels, Air B&B, rent reduction, who may pay, or even refuse to discuss it.
Landlord just keeps pushing for the work to start. Which has been refused on the basis that there is no information or plan so far.

Thanks in advance.

You still have a toilet and somewhere to wash.

[LooneyTunes]

CoolHands said:

Waaah that nasty landlord is putting in a new bathroom for me waaaah

The tenant has every right to be concerned if works are taking place, especially if they are without prior discussion or to address a issue they raised.

Fwiw, I wouldn’t do that sort of work during a tenancy unless there was discussion and agreement with the tenant about the need and arrangements for the work. When a tenant wants/needs work undertaking they generally understand that there will be some inconvenience and are happy to work around it for a little while (as they would have to if it was their own home).

The question really does need to be asked about whether the tenant has raised issues with the bathroom. If not then I’d wager a rent increase is to follow…

[LivLL]

paradigital said:

LivLL said:

Bit different when you are renting. When you're up to the eyeballs in mortgage debt it's fine if you want to live without a bathroom. Not when paying rent

What does the level of mortgage debt have to do with it? Can homeowners that haven’t over-stretched themselves not replace their bathroom fittings? What about homeowners that are mortgage free?

Bitter much?

I’m really confused ??? That chap made a totally irrelevant post about being a homeowner and how he’s happy to live without a bathroom.

Hence the sarky irrelevant comment back. Not sure why you swooped in and made up that horsest

Edited by LivLL on Wednesday 15th January 19:57

[davek_964]

PH gets more bizarre every day.

I wouldn't dream of announcing to my tenants that I was about to replace the bathroom with barely any notice, no discussion and no agreement on how long it would take.

I'm amazed that the majority of replies think that's fine!

[paulwirral]

Ask the landlord if you can shower and st at their house ?

[milesgiles]

davek_964 said:

PH gets more bizarre every day.

I wouldn't dream of announcing to my tenants that I was about to replace the bathroom with barely any notice, no discussion and no agreement on how long it would take.

I'm amazed that the majority of replies think that's fine!

Certainly should have given more notice

But he can’t know how long it will take. The plumber doesn’t know he might be sent elsewhere in the middle of it. It isn’t worth falling out over. I’m a landlord and a tenant and I’d be sticking your rent up for mithering