Is it legal in UK for a landlord to rent a flat with a waste pipe in my bedroom?

Question

I can hear the family upstairs having a shower/flushing toilet because the pipe runs down the wall (in a box) next to my bed and wakes me up at 5am every morning.

Seems weird for a 'luxury' appartment.

I complained and they said too bad I signed the contract.
(rental agreement).

Answer 1

Sorry to hear that Jacob. There really is no reason why you should be disturbed in this way. Utilities like waste pipes are often routed internally (therefore inside the flats below) as architects try and clean up the outside of buildings by running the pipes inside.

Talk to the landlord and ask him to insulate the 'box' that runs in your bedroom. If he refuses, ask his permission to do it yourself/have a builder do it. It shouldn't cost much. I have two houses that have the same system - I lined the 'boxes' with ordinary roof insulation and they work great. There are loads of much more hi tech materials you can use - polystyrene foam for example.

I even have one tenant that has the extractor pipe from an extractor fan in the bathroom running through his bedroom and 'the box' is totally silent when the fan is running.

Just be diplomatic Bigpathome.

Answer 2

I guess the only thing you can do is move the bed to another wall or another room ...

Take this as a valuable learning experience for the next time you rent a place .. (in fact, after checking how much notice you have to give your could start looking for another place right now)

Answer 3

If the building is new or recently re-furbed it may be subject to building regulations etc This is probably more a sound-proofing issue than anything.

Answer 4

well if you signed the contract than theres nothing you can do. im sure in the contract it doesnt say anything about a wastepipe, but if you saw the flat beforehand than it sucks.

Answer 5

Ask your local authorities enviromental health department if its legal

Answer 6

it's totally LEGAL.