My tenant has repeatedly blocked the toilet in their rented home.
This has happened four times now.
The first time, I unblocked it myself with a mop. Did the trick. Next time, around 3 months later, I sent plumber, thinking there must be an underlying reason.
He found there were some old deposits in the pipe so cleared those, although he said it was unlikely these had caused the blocked toilet but as he had removed them and they likely predated the tenancy, I paid.
The last time was December and the tenant messaged me saying the toilet is blocked again. Plumber attended and said there were two large toilet paper clumps which caused the blockage. He removed them. I felt she should pay as it was clearly her fault but she refused and I ended up paying the plumber because I couldn’t leave him out of pocket when I had asked him to attend. I told the tenant that I would pay but would seek to recuperate the cost from her deposit at the end of her tenancy.
Plumber took videos showing the toilet flushing correctly and the water flowing through the pipes, following his visit, so we have that as evidence that the toilet was working fine after this occasion.
Today she messaged me saying the toilet is blocked yet again. I really feel that it’s not my responsibility to pay as I can prove it was clear after last time, and only she and her family, plus any guests they may have had, will have had access to the property since then.
Can I just refuse to pay? I’m concerned that if I do, it may end up causing more damage. I intend to ask her to leave at the end of her contract but that isn’t until Sept and I know I have to give her 6 months’ notice.
I’m new to this and she’s my first problem tenant. Any opinions/ advice would be helpful.
Many thanks,
Hannah