Can A Plumber Leave You Without A Toilet?

Can A Plumber Leave You Without A Toilet?

None of us would be able to last more than a few hours without a functioning toilet so it’s the stuff of nightmares when you realise that there is a problem with yours. Despite the high cost, most of us would call an emergency plumber to put things right. But if the job isn’t as simple as we would hope, you may fear being left without a toilet. 

A lot of homes in the UK have more than one toilet so if you’re lucky enough to have a second, or even third toilet then you can rest easily. However, if your home has just one toilet and it isn’t working you might be wondering can a plumber leave you with a toilet?

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure that there are correct sanitation facilities within the property. If you own your home then this onus falls on you. However, if you are a landlord then you are legally obliged to ensure that your tenants have running water and sanitation, meaning you must have a toilet. But what this law doesn’t cover is the responsibility of the plumber. 

The plumber is under no legal obligation to ensure that you have a working toilet. If you call them out to perform repairs or a replacement, there is no set timescale for this work. Of course, most plumbers will get the job done as quickly as possible but if parts need to be ordered or the job is more complex than first imagined, your plumber certainly won’t have to work through the night to get it done. 

UK Laws On Being Without A Toilet

If you are living in a rented property, it is the responsibility of your landlord to ensure that you have a working toilet. In the event that your toilet breaks, you should contact your landlord who will then be obliged to arrange a repair. 

However, the time in which they are required to do this is pretty hazy so there may still be a chance that you could be left without a working toilet for a period of time. According to Credit Ladder, serious problems that may pose a risk to the health of the tenant, must be addressed within two weeks from being reported. 

Most landlords will either have savings or some sort of insurance that covers the cost of repairs so it shouldn’t usually take this long. However, if you do find that your landlord has failed to contact a plumber and schedule a repair within the two week period, you are within your rights to lodge a complaint to your local authority who will then pursue the matter on your behalf. 

It is also worth noting that, regardless of your tenancy agreement, the Landlord and Tenants act 1985 overrules anything that may be present in the agreement. This ensures that you are covered in the event of a broken toilet. 

Again, we should point out that it is not the responsibility of the plumber to ensure that you have a working toilet. If they do not complete the work within a reasonable amount of time, it will then be up to your landlord to chase them up and make sure the work is done. 

UK Families Left Without A Toilet

While it might not be legally disallowed for a plumber to leave a person without a toilet, there are tenants all over the UK that are being left without suitable sanitation facilities. There was a recent news report that talked about a young mother who had been left with nothing but a camping toilet by her plumber despite having three young children. And she isn’t the only person having to go through an ordeal similar to this. 

Reports of mothers being left without a toilet overnight are not uncommon on many of the parenting forums across the internet. These people are having to take their young children to supermarkets and other public places just to be able to relieve themselves. It’s either that, or go in a bucket, which again, is not uncommon. In a developed country like the United Kingdom, one would expect this to be far less of a problem. 

Finding A Good Plumber

Any decent plumber worth his or her salt would not leave a person without a toilet for more than a few hours. Respected tradespeople will tell you that disconnecting a toilet is always left as late as possible and it will be reconnected again as soon as possible, limiting the amount of time that a person has to be without it. 

Of course, if you’re having an entire bathroom renovation then it may be the case that you have to put up without having a toilet for some time. Your plumber will get you up and running again as quickly as they can but knowing that your bathroom may be out of service, it is a wise move to make alternative arrangements well in advance.

Finding a good plumber could mean the difference between being left without a toilet and having someone that will make emergency repairs as quickly as they can. But in a sea of tradespeople, it can be difficult to pick out the good from the bad, and we will be the first to admit that there are plenty of cowboys out there. Be sure to check reviews and recommendations as well as looking at any accreditations and qualifications to ensure that you source a plumber that will do everything in their power to get your toilet fixed within a reasonable amount of time. 

Recent Article: Can You Use Plumbers Tape On Gas Fittings

Conclusion

In the UK, plumbers are not legally obliged to make sure that their clients have a working toilet. If the work takes longer than expected, they can leave and come back at a later date. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to provide suitable sanitation so this means that if you live in a rented property, you will be protected by law and your landlord must arrange repairs or replacement of non-working toilets. Keep in mind, however, that the law considers a reasonable time frame to be up to two weeks so it’s always good to have a back up plan.