Buy to Let Building Insurance

We live in a shared ownership flat which has caused nothing but problems ever since we’ve moved in.

I rang the housing association (the landlord in leasing terms), last week to say the plumbing had been leaking and had flooded our washing machine, and I wanted to find out whether I can claim off the buildings insurance (a policy which I have asked to see on several occasions) for the damaged wall and skirting, and they are now denying that I ever rang, and twisting the conversation to suggest that the washing machine caused the fault and that they are therefore unable to help.

I have a £90 plumbing bill, £100 excess on the contents insurance to get a new carpet, and I have to get a new washer because the contents insurers say that the flood would be classed as plumbing wear and tear. My case handler is trying to find out whether we are covered for the washing machine as it is only 2 years old, so whilst we wait we are without a washing machine.

My question is, after paying service charge, rent and the relevent insurances to the housing association, are they obliged to share the costs of the repairs, and why are they shying away from their responsibilities?

I have referred back to our lease which states that mains plumbing is the Landlords (HA) responsiblity, and anything internal is ours.

We have already had the taps in the bathroom replaced (they were constantly dripping) the toilet has been repaired once, NHBC and the plumber I had out have deemed the plumbing “inadequate”.

NHBC came out because we have been getting an awful stench in the kitchen area, i reported this to them 2 years ago, and NHBC came out last week and said it was definately due to the insufficient plumbing, and had they claimed within the two years it would have been covered under their policy, but the HA left it so late and shirked their responsibilities, that they now have to send out further contractors to get it fixed, which they should have done 2 years ago!!

Do the Housing Association have an obligation to help with our repair costs, seeing as they have sold us a property with difficient services and we have reported these problems on several occasions?

Sorry its long winded, I just don’t know where else to turn!!!

thank you.
We part own it, part rent it. We cannot afford to sell. We are required to pay the housing associations sale fee’s as well as ours, we will owe more on the mortgage than what we make back.

The water was constantly running into our washing machine, we werent to know this until the drum filled up and flooded the kitchen.

THEY hold the buildings insurance policy, I want them to fix the cracked wall and skirting, I am not disputing that we have to pay for the carpet.