Can delayed reporting of a leak make a tenant liable for damage?
9 months ago | 5 comments
Should tenants receive compensation for delayed hot water repair?
12:01 AM, 31st July 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Hi, I have two tenants in an all-electric property, and both elements in the hot tank failed. The thermal reset worked for a while, and I tried changing the thermostats, but neither solved the problem.
The repair took about six weeks in total to complete. Contributory factors were the contractor not being available and the tenant not willing for me to accompany a contractor.
I lent the tenants an urn so they could at least do the washing up. They have an electric shower, and the property has heating.
The two tenants are a gentleman who has some autistic issues and a lady who has various health issues. He has just moaned a bit in WhatsApp messages, with no formal complaint.
I don’t know whether they have any recourse under the tenancy agreement or the new Renters’ Rights Act. Any payment would be a goodwill one.
What do you think I should offer the tenants in compensation, if anything?
Thanks,
Mike
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Member Since August 2026 - Comments: 7
12:03 PM, 11th August 2026, About 1 week ago
Reply to the comment left by DPT at 11/08/2026 – 10:58
That’s fair, it would definitely form part of the argument but it’s not completely clear cut in terms of compensation. 🙂
I think the key thing here though is that the delay has been caused by the tenants themselves though. That’s the key part and ensuring that can be evidenced would be where I would be focussing.
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1317
4:45 PM, 12th August 2026, About 1 week ago
Reply to the comment left by at 11/08/2026 – 12:03
Yes, I would agree that its worth raising that, but it didn’t sound like the tenants were blocking the repair, just not wanting the landlord to attend too. We dont know the history of their relationship, but its possible a judge would be sympathetic to that if the tenant claimed they were scared of him or something similar.