Does anyone know anything about shower repair?

[David]

We've run into a potential issue with our real estate agent over a crack on the floor of the shower. It's an acrylic base, I think, and I noticed from the very first day when we moved in that there was a weird dip in one section; almost like a gap between the base and whatever's underneath. I just accepted this as one of the many peculiarities of the house, along with the massive hole in the ceiling out the back, the broken curtains and the large crack running along the middle of the main wall�mildly uncomfortable, but hardly worth mentioning.

It wasn't an issue until about a week and a half ago, when a crack appeared right in the middle of the depressed section. Presumably, we'd stepped on it once too often and it had given way�if so, probably more a consequence of the structural weakness than anything untoward we'd done. We showed the crack to the real estate agent during a house inspection this week, and explained how we thought it had been caused. She took some photos, left and sent us this email yesterday:

[watt price tully]

David, I'd be talking to the tenants union or tenants legals service (forgot what they're called now) asap to get legal advice before you do anything & of course never accept any liability whatsoever.

Shower bases are not that expensive to replace I would have thought. Some $200-400 will see the landlord through. Installation is another matter.

As an aside, Jon Faine used to work at the Tenants Union many years ago when it was in Johnson Street Collingwood between Smith & Brunswick streets.

There you go, still at the same place: http://www.tuv.org.au

Good luck with it.

[Mugwump]

Sheer opportunsm by the landlord. We rented a house many years ago where pretty much the same thing happened on a second floor, and water ran through the shower base and onto the ceiling and carpet below. Fortunately, there was little serious damage - the carpet dried and the ceiling needed a lick of paint, amd the landlord did not try to stick it to us. Acrylic shower bases crack, or at least they used to. Don't accept it.

Landlords and their grubby agents are one of the side effects of the squalid parasite economy we've created because of the tax-driven fashion for "investors" (ha!) owning most of the housing stock, as a means of sticking their blood-straws into the veins of the young. I hope you win, but these Fagins hold the cards. Good luck.

[Pies4shaw]

David,

I agree with WPT and Mugwump. It is, in any event, most unlikely that you could be liable for the "damage" even if you'd actually dropped something in the shower, as alleged. A shower should, of course, be capable of functioning as such. In the ordinary course of events, the user will drop, eg, the shampoo, the soap, etc etc. It isn't as if this is an artefact in a museum - it's just a shower.

PM me if the landlord presses this, if you wish.

[1061]

David the Real Estate agents job is to make as much money from that rental property as possible, if that means smiling sweetly at while BS you then they wont care.


Don't trust a word they say and as advised already get onto the Tendants Union then be ready to take this to VCAT. If you can make the application first that will get the Agent on the back foot.

Get yourself an exercise book and take notes every time you talk to the agent or better still only email the agent and keep all emails.

[3.14159]

If the shower base isn't brand new it should come under normal wear and tear, if it's new is should be under warranty.

(even if the dropped heavy object was Lola)

[David]

[Morrigu]

My hubby does this sort of work in his business David here is what he said:

If it is on a wooden floor there could be a leak and the floor underneath has rotted and so has given way. With an acrylic base if there was a weak point underneath ( say from rotting floor boards) just standing on it could very easily have cracked it. Given it had a depression already this is most likely - if it was installed correctly originally.

Can you get under the house David and check - boards don't rot overnight! And if you can take photos - and if you can't make sure you are there when they come to fix it so you can see if this is the problem - then if it is it isn't your problem ( and cost) tis the property owners!

If it was installed incorrectly then you won't know this until they pull it out - the mortar may have cracked but this is less likely

If the crack appears to be coming from the waste ( drain) there is a chance they cut the hole in the floor around the waste too big causing a weak point but again you won't know this until the base is pulled out.

[stui magpie]

When in doubt, silicon sealant but you've got some good advice above.

I'd be working on the argument that you haven't dropped anything on it so it's not your problem.

[partypie]

Having gone thru similar in Qld recently, (which should be similar to Vic) is there a condition report when you moved in? Was it signed by both parties?. If not, they haven't got a leg to stand on. Also apart from bad workmanship etc, the concept of normal wear and tear applies. My agent tried all sorts of crap but it stopped when I got in touch with the owners, as I didn't want to spend my time in tribunals etc, and as it turned out, nor did they.

[Wokko]

Rental agents are scum, somewhere between lawyers and tabloid gossip journalists. Tell them to go **** themselves and to repair it or you'll take them to the tribunal. "Bath and shower repair specialist" lol! It's a $�$%^%%$ Monty Python skit.

One thing you can take from this, they're going to try and steal your bond.

[David]

Thanks for the advice/support everyone. Here's a picture of the damage:

[King Monkey]

Yes, Wokko has 'em figured, they're taking the piss David.

Been showering with any anvils under your arm lately??

[David]

Nope, just playing vertical lawn bowls�you know, the usual.

Oh, by the way, another rookie question: was I right about that being an acrylic base? Does anyone know what they look like? It kind of feels like a hard plastic.

[think positive]

That pic does look like impact damage. But you'd reckon it might take a brick or something!

Go to a bathroom sales/plumbing place, ask them what it is made of, (looks and sounds acrylic, is it slippery?) and what to do about a crack. Does the rest of the base feel flat? I would have thought an acrylic base would need to be installed on some kind of slurry for support. And certainly, when it's lifted if it has to be replaced, get pictures of the underneath. Best way to tell if it cracked due to poor fitting, etc. We have a single acrylic shower base in the kids bathroom, and I swear it feels like a hump in the middle! And it's slippery, I hate it! The kids don't seem to mind it. And its way better than grotty grouted tiles!

Re the other damage and faults you've mentioned, I hope you have a photographic evidence folder from when you moved in? Otherwise, it would be a good idea to do it ASAP and maybe arrange for an inspection with the agent, and both of you sign of on any outstanding issues. Keep a copy of the disc of pics each. And yes, that's exactly what I do when a tenant moves in or out.

And just my two cents, not all real estate agents are scum. They have a job to do. There is easily equal numbers of scummy tenants who don't give a shit how they treat someone else's property.


http://www.remodelmybathroom.com/what-type-of-shower-base-should-you-use/

http://www.innerbath.com.au/products-and-services/shower-products