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Broken shower.

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  • 15-12-2013 12:28am
    #1
    AirMechMan
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭


    hi all,

    I would appreciate your advice on an issue I am having with the letting agency who manages our house.

    Three weeks ago, the electric shower broke in our house. It's a very old triton model.

    I called the letting agency, who told me the usual "yeah no problem we will get someone out to look." Three days went by, so I called again and got the response "oh has nobody been out yet?"

    Finally, two weeks after reporting the problem, someone from the agency came out (not a plumber, or electrician) and he said he would have to order parts.

    Another week has gone by, and nobody has returned since. We have no other shower in the house, we are using our friends shower next door.

    The agency did however call to say they are increasing our rent.

    If I call a shower specialist tomorrow and get it fixed, can I deduct the amount I pay from my rent?

    I don't want to deal with the scumbag letting agency anymore, and I don't really want some "diy man" from the conpany fixing it. We have all heard what can happen when a dodgy repair on an electric shower.

    So what's the best option? Call a shower repair man and deduct what I pay him from my rent next month?

    At my wits end here.


Comments

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    #2
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    Stop calling them and send them a letter, outlining the problem, your attempts to get it resolved and the time frame involved, and give a deadline as to when you want the issue resolved by before you start to look to terminate the lease.

    Tell them that you will discuss a rent review once they have upheld their legal obligations and fixed the issue.


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    #3
    Thomas D
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Thomas D


    http://www.goldenpages.ie/

    Call a few guys. Get one out and have him fix it in the next few days. Send a copy of the invoice to the letting agent and if payment is not forthcoming take it off the next months rent.


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    #4
    runawaybishop
    Registered Users Posts: 9,504 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    Thomas D wrote: »
    http://www.goldenpages.ie/

    Call a few guys. Get one out and have him fix it in the next few days. Send a copy of the invoice to the letting agent and if payment is not forthcoming take it off the next months rent.

    That's not how it works. He needs to write a letter as outlined by djimi first.


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    #5
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    For something as urgent as a shower you can ring them and give them 24 hours to get a shower working or you can take action yourself and get a plumber in to fix the shower and send the bill to the landlord/agent.


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    #6
    runawaybishop
    Registered Users Posts: 9,504 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    For something as urgent as a shower you can ring them and give them 24 hours to get a shower working or you can take action yourself and get a plumber in to fix the shower and send the bill to the landlord/agent.

    You need proof you informed though though, a phone call isn't proof if they turn around and want to act the bollocks.


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    #7
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    runawaybishop wrote: »
    You need proof you informed though though, a phone call isn't proof if they turn around and want to act the bollocks.
    So you keep notes of every call and every visit from the agent or others who may or may not be qualified tradespeople. This should be more than enough enough for the PRTB or the small claims court.


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    #8
    runawaybishop
    Registered Users Posts: 9,504 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    So you keep notes of every call and every visit from the agent or others who may or may not be qualified tradespeople. This should be more than enough enough for the PRTB or the small claims court.

    How does that prove you contacted them about the shower though? If you ring and then get in your own tradesman they can argue you didnt tell them and its too expensive, then you have illegally withheld rent and you get noticed.


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    #9
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    So you keep notes of every call and every visit from the agent or others who may or may not be qualified tradespeople. This should be more than enough enough for the PRTB or the small claims court.

    Would it be? The PRTB require a proper written paper trail (letter/email/text possibly) for most things; Im not sure why this would be any different?


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    #10
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    runawaybishop wrote: »
    How does that prove you contacted them about the shower though? If you ring and then get in your own tradesman they can argue you didnt tell them and its too expensive, then you have illegally withheld rent and you get noticed.
    In this case someone has already called to look at the broken shower so that is more than enough proof.


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    #11
    runawaybishop
    Registered Users Posts: 9,504 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    In this case someone has already called to look at the broken shower so that is more than enough proof.

    If you are dealing with sloppy agents i would ensure you are 100% covered. I doubt there's even any proof someone called around. Especially if you are going to be taking rent away from them they could get thick pretty fast.


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