My world is falling down

Will · 23-08-2011, 19:39

As some of you have seen from my FB updates my ceiling collapsed in my flat. Some of you have been to see me and stayed with me, so you can appreciate this a little more.

A bit of my stuff has been damaged, but the biggest thing is the amount of dust and dirt that now covers the lounge! I've cleared most of it up but it's going to take a few goes to get the place tidy. I weighed the bags of rubble - it came to over 200kg! Had anyone been under there.... :/ Also, some of you know I'm quite proud at keeping my place relatively tidy.. so this has set my OCD off big time!

My landlady came to see the damage this morning and was gobsmacked - and to her credit has got the builders round straight away to have a look at things.

For those that do not know, it's a victorian mansion with 15ft ceilings, and cornicing around the sides.

I'm thinking of asking for a discount or amnesty from having to pay next month's rent owing to the inconvenience caused (although I'm going on holiday for 2 weeks, it's just the principle of it - I've had to take a day off work today and will have to take the day off tomorrow for the builders to come round). Also, I'll have to put in a claim with my insurance, but will request the landlady to cover the excess value, as well as get her to pay for the cleaning materials I've had to buy to get the rubble out and the dust. I don't think that's unfair do you?

Here are the pics of my horror this morning at 330am!

General horror

Damaged speaker :/

Clear desk policy in effect...

Another desk shot

Mantle piece

Futon a mess

Coffee table

More carnage - Yes I had been doing some ironing tonight

Ceiling pic

Desk - I'm usually uber tidy - this makes my OCD bad :/

Giant slab of doom

Caranage

Giant slabs of concrete/mortar

Dust on hi-fi kit

Back of futon and corner of desk

Dusty TV and Audio equipment :/

Pic of the exposed ceiling:

Here's a vid:

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8136/dtbt.mp4

I'm now filthy, have moved everything out of the room and put dust sheets everywhere ready for them to come and rip everything down tomorrow. What a palava. I'm knackered. Up since before 4am and been non stop clearing all day.

I blame el nino!

Knipples · 23-08-2011, 19:47

I've sat on that futon!

As I said elsewhere, I hope it can be fixed and things sorted out without too much hassle.

Dymetrie · 23-08-2011, 21:41

Fruity, Will, that looks horrible!

Lucky that you weren't sitting there when it dropped.

Fingers crossed that it gets sorted quickly and that your landlady is gracious and pays your insurance excess.

Mark · 23-08-2011, 23:13

200kg? Ouch! Even more glad no-one was under that.

Assuming the place was well-maintained, I'd be mindful with the compensation that she'll have to pay to get it fixed just as you will to have your stuff replaced. That said, you can but ask and your requests don't seem unreasonable.

Grandad · 23-08-2011, 23:29

re your offer to her, I would say you are being far too soft tbh

Desmo · 24-08-2011, 06:55

I don't think you're being too soft, I think you've got it about right. You shouldn't have to pay out for anything and she's getting it all done quickly. There's no need to "grab what you can" out of the situation

Grandad · 24-08-2011, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desmo

I don't think you're being too soft, I think you've got it about right. You shouldn't have to pay out for anything and she's getting it all done quickly. There's no need to "grab what you can" out of the situation

true, not talking about exploiting things but I certainly wouldn't be doing my own cleaning up

TinkerBell · 24-08-2011, 08:03

100% agree with Desmo. She is doing what she can to help and at the end of the day she wasn't to know it was going to happen.

volospian · 24-08-2011, 08:20

What caused the collapse?

As for your offer... I don't know enough of the background to really comment. If you had told her time and again that the ceiling was fit to collapse and she had done nothing about it, then I'd be hitting her for all I could, if, however, it was a totally "out of the blue" thing, and that you had no inkling that the ceiling was unsafe, let alone told your landlady about the issue, then I think that asking her for compensation for an event that was entirely unexpected is perhaps a bit harsh and that maybe the second half (cover excess and pay for cleaning, etc.) would be reasonable.

PS. Glad you're OK though... damn lucky you weren't sitting on the futon, enjoying a glass of red and a re-run of the X Factor at the time!!

Kitten · 24-08-2011, 08:43

I think Will would prefer to have the ceiling fall in on his head than watch X~ factor!

23-08-2011, 19:39	#1
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	My world is falling down As some of you have seen from my FB updates my ceiling collapsed in my flat. Some of you have been to see me and stayed with me, so you can appreciate this a little more. A bit of my stuff has been damaged, but the biggest thing is the amount of dust and dirt that now covers the lounge! I've cleared most of it up but it's going to take a few goes to get the place tidy. I weighed the bags of rubble - it came to over 200kg! Had anyone been under there.... :/ Also, some of you know I'm quite proud at keeping my place relatively tidy.. so this has set my OCD off big time! My landlady came to see the damage this morning and was gobsmacked - and to her credit has got the builders round straight away to have a look at things. For those that do not know, it's a victorian mansion with 15ft ceilings, and cornicing around the sides. I'm thinking of asking for a discount or amnesty from having to pay next month's rent owing to the inconvenience caused (although I'm going on holiday for 2 weeks, it's just the principle of it - I've had to take a day off work today and will have to take the day off tomorrow for the builders to come round). Also, I'll have to put in a claim with my insurance, but will request the landlady to cover the excess value, as well as get her to pay for the cleaning materials I've had to buy to get the rubble out and the dust. I don't think that's unfair do you? Here are the pics of my horror this morning at 330am! General horror Damaged speaker :/ Clear desk policy in effect... Another desk shot Mantle piece Futon a mess Coffee table More carnage - Yes I had been doing some ironing tonight Ceiling pic Desk - I'm usually uber tidy - this makes my OCD bad :/ Giant slab of doom Caranage Giant slabs of concrete/mortar Dust on hi-fi kit Back of futon and corner of desk Dusty TV and Audio equipment :/ Pic of the exposed ceiling: Here's a vid: http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8136/dtbt.mp4 I'm now filthy, have moved everything out of the room and put dust sheets everywhere ready for them to come and rip everything down tomorrow. What a palava. I'm knackered. Up since before 4am and been non stop clearing all day. I blame el nino! __________________ *No No!*

23-08-2011, 21:41	#3
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Fruity, Will, that looks horrible! Lucky that you weren't sitting there when it dropped. Fingers crossed that it gets sorted quickly and that your landlady is gracious and pays your insurance excess. __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

24-08-2011, 06:55	#6
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I don't think you're being too soft, I think you've got it about right. You shouldn't have to pay out for anything and she's getting it all done quickly. There's no need to "grab what you can" out of the situation __________________

24-08-2011, 08:03	#8
TinkerBell Dirty Spammer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the middle! Posts: 2,454	100% agree with Desmo. She is doing what she can to help and at the end of the day she wasn't to know it was going to happen. __________________

24-08-2011, 08:20	#9
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	What caused the collapse? As for your offer... I don't know enough of the background to really comment. If you had told her time and again that the ceiling was fit to collapse and she had done nothing about it, then I'd be hitting her for all I could, if, however, it was a totally "out of the blue" thing, and that you had no inkling that the ceiling was unsafe, let alone told your landlady about the issue, then I think that asking her for compensation for an event that was entirely unexpected is perhaps a bit harsh and that maybe the second half (cover excess and pay for cleaning, etc.) would be reasonable. PS. Glad you're OK though... damn lucky you weren't sitting on the futon, enjoying a glass of red and a re-run of the X Factor at the time!! Last edited by volospian; 24-08-2011 at 08:30.

23-08-2011, 23:13	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	200kg? Ouch! Even more glad no-one was under that. Assuming the place was well-maintained, I'd be mindful with the compensation that she'll have to pay to get it fixed just as you will to have your stuff replaced. That said, you can but ask and your requests don't seem unreasonable.

23-08-2011, 23:29	#5
Grandad Old Git Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,016	re your offer to her, I would say you are being far too soft tbh

24-08-2011, 08:43	#10
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I think Will would prefer to have the ceiling fall in on his head than watch X~ factor! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher