I'm living in an old Victorian rental that I absolutely adore, but my landlord is quite the headache and refuses to spend a dime on necessary repairs. He's left an open chimney flue in the kitchen, where a wood oven used to be, and now when it rains, water just pours down it, soaking everything beneath it. I want to install some cabinets to spruce up my kitchen, but I can't do that with the leaks continuing. Ideally, I'd love to find a solution that doesn't involve going up on the roof or using a ladder, something that's easy and cheap. Any product suggestions or DIY fixes would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, the simplest fix might just be a bucket. You can catch the water that comes down, empty it out when it fills up, and just keep it there until you figure something else out. It’s not pretty, but it could save the cabinets from getting soaked!
Have you checked if there's a missing cap on the flue? That could be an easy and inexpensive fix for your landlord to consider. You’ll need to have a better idea of where the leak is coming from first though. If it’s just an open chimney, then it’s definitely letting in all that rain.
Look, legally, your landlord should be responsible for fixing water entry issues. Write a detailed letter with photos of the problem and give him a deadline to fix it. If he ignores you, you might have grounds for further action. It’s worth knowing your rights as a tenant!
Thanks, I was hoping for something a little more permanent, but I guess I'll have to stick with the bucket for now.