Reducing a month's rent due to having no shower?

[tennant87]

Hi, since we moved in to our flat in september of last year, the shower has been leaking into the flat below, it was immediately reported. Eventually in january plumbers started coming round to give quotes and it wasnt until the start of february that ful repair work was given the go ahead by the LL.

The work was meant to take a 3 days at the most, but over a month has gone by and the bathroom is still a building siteas more and more problems keep cropping up.

We, the tennants, are now enquiring as to having the nexts month's rent reduced (hopefully at least halved) as for over a month we havent had a functioning shower. What would be the best way of going about this as the property is managed by ludlow thompson and we dont speak directly to the LL?

Also what is the likelihood of the rent being reduced?

[westminster]

What would be the best way of going about this as the property is managed by an agent and we dont speak directly to the LL?

Also what is the likelihood of the rent being reduced?

Write to the agent and put your case to them - describe the inconvenience caused and ask for a rent reduction. Send copy letter to the LL. No idea whether you'll get it. Much less likely if there are alternative bathing facilities, i.e. a functioning bath.

If you don't get the desired rent reduction, you have the option of claiming against landlord for compensation, but the sum involved may not be worth the hassle, and litigating against the LL may lead to them serving notice at the earliest opportunity.

[tennant87]

Thanks for the response, the shower is/was the only washing facility in the flat.

We are going to phone and email them, and the estate agents are just round the corner aswell so we will go and see them in person aswell. We just hope some compensation for the inconvenince can be agreed because it is a joke expecting us to live without washing facilities for over a month without some form of compensation.

[westminster]

See this webpage for general info on dealing with disrepair in private lets

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets