Signs you may have a toilet problems claim
- Toilet blocked or flushing poorly
- Leaking from the pan, cistern or soil pipe connection
- Cracked pan or cistern
- Toilet loose or rocking on the floor
- Sewage smell from the soil pipe or drain
- No working toilet in the home
A working toilet is a legal requirement
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 names "sanitary conveniences" as installations the landlord must keep in repair and proper working order, together with the soil pipes and drains serving them. A home without a working toilet is unfit for human habitation under the 2018 Act, so a total failure must be treated as an emergency.
Common toilet disrepair
- Blockages caused by defective, collapsed or badly laid soil pipes and drains.
- Leaks at the pan connector or cistern that soak the floor and the ceiling below.
- Cracked pans and cisterns that cannot be used safely.
- Toilets that have come loose from the floor, breaking the seal to the soil pipe.
- Cisterns that run continuously, will not fill or will not flush.
- Foul smells from defective traps, vents or drains.
Why it matters
Loss of the only toilet is one of the most distressing forms of disrepair, particularly for families with children, older or disabled people, or anyone with a medical condition. Leaking waste water is a health hazard and damages the home. Even a toilet that is usable but constantly leaking or smelling makes daily life miserable.
What you can claim
- Repair or replacement of the toilet, cistern, pipework and drains, and repair of the water damage.
- Compensation as a percentage of rent for the period affected, with a significant uplift for any period without a usable toilet.
- Replacement of flooring and belongings damaged by leaks.
Evidence that helps
Film blockages and leaks. Photograph damage to the floor and the ceiling below. Note the dates and times of every report and every missed appointment.
Think you have a housing disrepair claim?
Tell us what is wrong with your home and we will check, free of charge, whether you can claim repairs and compensation on a no win, no fee basis.
Toilet disrepair: your questions answered
We have no working toilet. How quickly must the landlord act?
Within 24 hours. Loss of the only toilet is an emergency repair in every social landlord's policy and in housing law generally.
The toilet blocks every few weeks. Is that my fault?
Repeated blockages usually point to a defective pipe or drain rather than misuse. A camera survey will show the cause, and that is the landlord's responsibility.
Can I claim if I had to use a neighbour's toilet?
Yes. The inconvenience and indignity are reflected in the compensation.
The leak has stained the ceiling of the flat below. Am I liable?
Not if the leak came from a defect you reported. Responsibility rests with the landlord who failed to repair it.