Burned by Scalding Water at Home? Get Free Legal Advice
Compensation for Tenant Burned by Scalding Hot Water From Shower
Mr D was an elderly tenant who was badly scalded by hot water while using the shower in the rented flat that he had recently moved into. Mr D had noticed that the water temperature in the shower was erratic (though never boiling hot), and had asked his landlord to send a plumber round to fix it. No action had been taken however. While using the shower one day, Mr D adjusted the water temperature several times, before it suddenly became scalding hot. Mr D was unable to react quickly enough due to his age and infirmity, and sustained severe burns to his upper body and legs.
He was able to call an ambulance and was taken to a specialist burns unit at a nearby hospital, where he remained for three days while his burn injuries were treated. Apart from the intense pain and incapacity the accident caused, Mr D was advised that he is likely to be permanently scarred by his burn wounds.
- Claim Against Landlord for Dangerous Hot Water System
- Landlords’ Responsibility for Safe Provision of Heating and Hot Water
- Case Study: Tenant Injured and Possessions Damaged by Leaking Water
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Given that Mr D had experienced variable water temperature in the shower ever since he had rented the property, and that this had been reported to the landlord, it was clear that the thermostat had been defective prior to Mr D moving in. This meant that the landlord was liable for the tenant's burns and for failing to provide rented accommodation that was in a reasonably safe state to live in. After a few months of correspondence, the landlord acknowledged responsibility for the faulty hot water system, and Mr D later received a cheque for £4,250 in compensation.
This obligation extends to water tanks and pipes, boilers, radiators and similar installations for the provision of heating and hot water. Basins, sinks and baths must also be kept in repair and proper working order by landlords. Heating and hot water problems are sometimes the result of problems with installations located outside the property, such as communal heating systems serving tower blocks, and landlords are also responsible for the maintenance of these central systems if a tenancy began after 1989 (when Section 11 was extended).
All these installations need to be in a state of good repair at the start of a tenancy, otherwise the landlord will be required to bring the property up to standard and maintain it in that state throughout the duration of the tenancy agreement. If a landlord fails to do so, they will be in breach of their obligations to the tenant and liable for any injuries caused by their inaction.
Mr L contacted our firm, and having discussed the matter with our lawyers, decided to make a claim against the landlord for the damage done to his personal possessions and the injuries he suffered after slipping on the puddle of leaked water. We went on to argue that the landlord was responsible for the building's structure (including plumbing), as per Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and was therefore liable for Mr L's injuries and loss of possessions caused by the leaking water from the burst pipe. The landlord had been informed about the leaking pipe, and could have prevented it from bursting, had prompt repair work been arranged and carried out. We were able to gain an admission of liability and agree a compensation settlement with the landlord's insurers before the matter reached the court stage, and Mr L received £4,500 in compensation.
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
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Accident Claims Caused by Disrepair We Have Won:
- Slips and Trips on Unsafe Steps
- Injuries From Defective Home Appliances
- Trips on Damaged or Loose Carpeting
- Injuries From Collapsing Ceilings
- Dangerous Fixtures and Furnishings
- Slipping Accidents at Rented Properties
- Accidents in Communal Areas
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