UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello all

My tenant has removed the down pipe from the guttering pulling out all the wall fixings (2 story terraced house) and diverted it from the drain into a waterbutt which overflows and has made the bricks damp.  She has now given notice.   I am okay with wear and tear and I know I'm responsible for guttering etc but this is damage to the drainage system and she is refusing to put it right - she says the gutters are leaking but never reported this to me.  Should she replace the down pipe as she pulled it off the wall?

Thanks

The guttering leaking doesn't seem connected to the downpipe being damaged (and the consequent damage to the bricks). The damage to the downpipe and bricks isn't normal wear and tear and she should either replace it, or compensate you for the loss involved in your doing so.

Even if the gutter it's connected to was leaking, you're obviously not asking her to fix the gutter.

Thank you very much for your sensible response

Get several quotes for correcting the defect

Give her notice that you have obtained a quote to remedy her unauthorised removal of the pipe and that you intend to make a deduction from the deposit via the Deposit Protection Scheme.  Give her 14 days to provide her own quote for the remedial works to mitigate her loss, but don't accept anything that does not restore the pipes to their previous condition and make sure it is of the same quality.

Quote from: PINKY on September 06, 2024, 04:05:04 PMHello all

My tenant has removed the down pipe from the guttering pulling out all the wall fixings (2 story terraced house) and diverted it from the drain into a waterbutt which overflows and has made the bricks damp.  She has now given notice.   I am okay with wear and tear and I know I'm responsible for guttering etc but this is damage to the drainage system and she is refusing to put it right - she says the gutters are leaking but never reported this to me.  Should she replace the down pipe as she pulled it off the wall?

Thanks