Doomed, I tell you, doomed!
See that icon? That's one of my windows, that is. Happened ages ago, but the building management folks never returned my call and the Christmas happened and I never got around to sorting it (it's only the outer pane of the double glazing that's bust). Now, I have a more urgent issue - after a week or two of increasing ropiness, my hot water has died entirely. To add to the fun, the main stop-tap for the flat is sheared off - meaning that there's no way to cut off the water supply and facilitate major plumbing work. I called the management people last week and spoke to a nice man who couldn't answer my questions and told me that the guy I really needed to speak to was on holiday. Just now, I called back to discover that rather than being back as expected, this chap is trapped in Cyprus and they have no idea when he'll be back. Oh, joy, oh rapture.
Hopefully, somebody there will be able to help me soon - at the very least I need to know where the building stop-tap is so that I can get the one in my flat fixed (I'm leaning towards the "beg forgiveness rather than ask permission" option as regards to turning off the building at this point). Thankfully my gym membership is really coming in hand - at least I can use the showers there to stave off smelliness for the time being...
Update: Shock, horror! I got a call back! Unfortunately, it was mostly to say "Now't to do wi' us. We don' know nuffink." and tell me to RTFLA. Unfortunately, while the lease agreement does tell me whose responsibility the repairs are (both mine, alas), it doesn't (as he claimed) have information leading to the whereabouts of the stop tap. This leaves me Up the Amazon on a Rubber Duck (any minute now, piranhas will infest the not-hot water tank...) Say it with me: d00med.
Update 2: Two thumbs way up to Thames Water! I got straight through to a nice chap who knew what he was talking about and arranged for someone to come out and do a trace and leave me a note with the details (including which, if any, of the other flats will be affected). The downside is that it will take 5-7 days, but as they're not charging me to do this, I can't really complain (he did also point out that a rebutable plumber can freeze the pipes to allow work, but as there's about half an inch between the stop tap and the floor, that's not an option for me).
Hopefully, somebody there will be able to help me soon - at the very least I need to know where the building stop-tap is so that I can get the one in my flat fixed (I'm leaning towards the "beg forgiveness rather than ask permission" option as regards to turning off the building at this point). Thankfully my gym membership is really coming in hand - at least I can use the showers there to stave off smelliness for the time being...
Update: Shock, horror! I got a call back! Unfortunately, it was mostly to say "Now't to do wi' us. We don' know nuffink." and tell me to RTFLA. Unfortunately, while the lease agreement does tell me whose responsibility the repairs are (both mine, alas), it doesn't (as he claimed) have information leading to the whereabouts of the stop tap. This leaves me Up the Amazon on a Rubber Duck (any minute now, piranhas will infest the not-hot water tank...) Say it with me: d00med.
Update 2: Two thumbs way up to Thames Water! I got straight through to a nice chap who knew what he was talking about and arranged for someone to come out and do a trace and leave me a note with the details (including which, if any, of the other flats will be affected). The downside is that it will take 5-7 days, but as they're not charging me to do this, I can't really complain (he did also point out that a rebutable plumber can freeze the pipes to allow work, but as there's about half an inch between the stop tap and the floor, that's not an option for me).
