UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello,

On the 01/01/24 my tenants reported a blocked toilet and asked if they could call someone out. At this stage I agreed that they could arrange for someone to go and have a look as I was unsure what the problem was.The tenants have send me the bill for £305.00. I called the plumber to find out what the problem was but he just confirmed that it was a blockage, but could not tell me the cause. He was all rather vague, but he did say that it was a large blockage which took him a long time to sort. I think that the cause was either too much loo paper, wipes or something similar and don't feel I would be responsible for paying for this. Could someone give me some advise please.

Thanks in advance.

Joe.   

It's all done and dusted now. There was a problem, you agreed to let them sort it and that's what happened. The plumber's customer is the tenants, so he's no reason to tell you anything.

It shouldn't happen again. But, if it does, that's the time to address it.

If you'd wanted to be involved, then you would have been. You were asked and you chose to let it be handled by others - until the bill arrived; then you're very interested all of a sudden. There's nothing in what you write to say how long the Tenants have been at the property, nor do you confirm that you had all soil pipes 'professionally' cleaned just before the commencement of their tenancy. Now you think something... but, just as before, you don't know.

In short - pay up, get a life and move on.

Quote from: joe on January 06, 2024, 02:50:21 PMhe did say that it was a large blockage which took him a long time to sort.

So, it was a ... big job? 

I agree with the others: you told the tenants what to do and they did it. As it's the first time it's happened, in the absence of any firm evidence to contrary, you can't really say it blocked due to a failure to use the apparatus in a tenant-like manner. All you can do is offer advice and see whether it happens again.

Quote from: Simon Pambin on January 06, 2024, 06:27:46 PMSo, it was a ... big job?

Ho ho!


I provided my tenants a large toilet plunger and a small sink/bath plunger (both on the inventory).

I added some simple guidance in the Tenant Info Pack that I gave them at check-in.


I had messages from 2 tenants about a slow draining sink and a partially blocked toilet. In each case I reminded them about the plungers and the guidance. The problems were easily resolved by the tenants.

I'm certain that had I not provided an immediate means of them trying to deal with the problem, the blockages would have built up to the point that a plumber would have been required.

So worth doing IMO.

Do those come in digital versions?

Quote from: Hippogriff on January 06, 2024, 10:13:16 PMDo those come in digital versions?

I'm trying to read some smut into your words - but not quite getting there.

So perhaps they have another meaning? 

Hippogriff is the expert when it comes to finding unusual uses for tools and gadgets.

I must say that orange one on the right rather interested me. Where could I buy that?

Quote from: heavykarma on January 07, 2024, 10:50:51 AMI must say that orange one on the right rather interested me. Where could I buy that?

Hardware store or sex shop, depending on intended usage.

As  the local Wilco has closed I will be forced to look elsewhere.

Quote from: heavykarma on January 08, 2024, 01:29:14 PMAs  the local Wilco has closed I will be forced to look elsewhere.

Try ScrewFix*

*Two things you can buy in the sketchier parts of CV34...

Quote from: heavykarma on January 08, 2024, 01:29:14 PMAs  the local Wilco has closed I will be forced to look elsewhere.

There are lots of sink plungers on Amazon & ebay

I usually apply a strong solution of bleach and soda crystals, but this has piqued my interest.

Quote from: heavykarma on January 09, 2024, 10:10:01 AMI usually apply a strong solution of bleach and soda crystals, but this has piqued my interest.

- Hold a wet cloth firmly over the overflow hole to stop pressure being lost from there.

- Ensure there is a couple of inches of water in the sink so that you pump an incompressible liquid rather than air.

- Pumping down (and up) several times with vigour should quickly break up fat & general gunge blockages.

The plungers pictured here are all sink plungers, you need something with a different shape for a toilet.