How long can a landlord leave you without a shower or bath?
How long can a landlord leave you without a shower or bath? Few things are as essential in a home as a functioning bath or shower. But if your landlord fails to fix faulty amenities, how long can they legally deprive you of washing facilities? We look at the rules requiring landlords to maintain decent sanitation standards.
24 Hours for Emergency Repairs
If losing your sole bath or shower leaves you unable to wash at all, this constitutes an emergency repair under housing law. Much like losing heat or water completely, landlords must take immediate action within 24 hours in such dire situations.
That means if your shower breaks leaving you without alternative washing options, your landlord must have a plumber assess and implement emergency works like cold water supplies or temporary showers within a day.
5 Days for Urgent Issues
If you still have some imperfect bathing options like a dripping shower or narrow bathtub, the repair category extends to “urgent”. Here your landlord has up to 5 working days to complete more extensive fixes.
So if the bath taps function but the shower leaks, they must have plumbers replace mixer valves, hoses, tiles or other components within a week to meet the decent standard of repair that tenants are entitled to under legislation.
When Further Action Is Justified
If your landlord denies you any washing facilities for over 48 hours or fails urgent repairs past 5 days, your next steps should involve council environmental health teams. Continued absence of essential sanitary provisions like bathing breaches housing fitness standards. Officials can compel negligent landlords through legal notices and penalties.
No tenant should endure days without basics like bathing. Understanding the rules requiring prompt landlord action empowers residents to demand better when issues arise.
Important links
Housing Disrepair Advice: https://housingdisrepairadvice.org/contact
Housing Ombudsman: https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/
