Tenant’s poor housekeeping causing property disrepair?

It's in your interests as owner to get the shower unit leak fixed. It's in your interests to get the mouldy shower replaced to prevent mould spreading elsewhere.

The onus is on you to mitigate the damage and get the leak fixed ASAP.

I am not a legal expert, but I expect if the electric shower was in place at the start of the tenancy, then you can't just disable it otherwise that could be construed as harassment, irrespective of whether there is another bath etc.

You need to negotiate with the nice lady tenant a contribution towards the repair, say 10%. Then you need to ensure that you carry out regular inspections, say six monthly. As you have allowed things to get to this stage, it's probably best to put it down to experience.

If the leak is an "escape of water" issue, you may be able to claim on your house insurance. We had a leak in the water pipe to the sink which our "nice tenants" didn't tell us about and we got our bathroom and downstairs hallway refurbished this way through a new for old insurance policy as the water damage can be quite extensive.

You also shouldn't be posting the tenants personal details here, even if you refer to her as Mrs tenant. It's not really relevant anyway. Just say "covid and personal health issues".

I would think that your tenancy agreement specifically states the property should be kept clean and free from mold, I know mine do. In which case the tenant is in breach of the tenancy agreement.
It's up to you how you decide to take this forward. But if you decide to keep a tenant who never cleans I would insist she changes her ways and have 3 monthly (at least) inspections.

if you got photos of the shower cubicle before they moved in send them back a photo of this and what it looks like now. They can see themselves what the difference is. Contact them to tell them you will repair the leak but they need to clean the shower cubicle first so that a contractor can actually see what needs to be done - tell them you have explained the situation but noone will come out until the area is clean and this is NOT your responsibility. Without sounding condescending sent them a photo of a shower cleaning product on the basis they might find this of use and also details (google search) on how mould accumulates in such an areas so they can be 'enlightened'.
Do all that and then book a check in three months time.

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 10/08/2022 - 14:32
also meant to add that explain that as you are now aware you have an obligation to fix the leak, but any delay on their part (they dont clean it) means that there will be a DIRECT delay in getting it sorted. Make them aware that any further damage will be as a result of their inaction not yours and that also means that you will not be responsible for any additional repairs over and above this.
If you can pencil in a contractor for say 2 weeks time - that way you can tell them you have taken it seriously and will make good but they have to act and do their bit too and they have this time in order to do this. Also drop a hint that if the contractor onthe day is unable to carry out the repair as they have not done their bit then a failed call out charge will also be coming their way.

Thank you, all - especially DSR - for assisting with this.

I have the AIIC Inventory & Schedule of Condition plus photos from 2016, so I'm going to take DSR's advice and let Mrs T compare the two herself. I'll also send a copy of the tenancy agreement as a reminder of their undertakings.and do that after I've been to see her at 6pm tomorrow.

I'll go with a bag full of cleaning kit as a 'goodwill gesture' and explain what has to happen next for the repairs to be made. I'll suggest she pays someone to do it if she doesn't like the idea of applying the chemical treatment herself.

Good point, DSR, about the delay they could cause by not getting on top of the cleaning with haste. Thanks for that. I'll let them know it's down to them when the repairs take place and I'll take photos of the kitchen walls as they are now.

I doubt I'll ever get a regular 3 month visiting slot due to the way time is managed in the household. If I get 'put off' I'll have to ask for a video presentation while I 'wait' to get in.

In an ideal world these tenants would be housed in the social sector. Realistically, I can't house them for life - nor do I want to - nor should I have to spend my future actively supervising a tenant's reluctance to engage with a housekeeping regime.

At some point sooner or later, the child's support structure will have to be disrupted by a house move.
As will Mrs T's time devoted to everything else bar the maintenance of good hygiene standards.

Anyway, thanks again for all the input. It's been much appreciated!

Lord

Talk to them ! I have had similar issues with tenants who simply refuse to clean, put things away or put the bins out. But talking to them, explaining your own perspective and occasional visits can work wonders.
It took about 6 visits over a year for one family to clear all their rubbish, but eventually they did it.
Another property with tenants who don't know what soap is, or what cupboards are for, I gave them one month notice of an inspection and the house was cleaned and everything put away. Not to the level I want, but to a level that I can tolerate.
I was finding that I didn't want to go and inspect either property because of how the tenants were treating them, and doubtless the two properties will get scruffy again, but talking to the tenants did improve things sufficiently. Both properties are on my list of those to be visited far more often now.
I just hope that when Section 21 is repealed, the new powers to evict can include where tenants cause disrepair simply by not taking care of their properties, otherwise, in my two examples I would have had no leverage with which to encourage my tenants to tidy and clean up.