Row.co.uk Blog

Is There Space For The New Nokia Tablet?

The pre-Christmas period is generally a quiet one in terms of tech launches. This is mainly because manufacturers aim to flog their wares rather than release and try build up steam for new ones. This year is no different to others; be it aside from the surprising arrival of the new Nokia N1 Android tablet last week.

Nokia Android tablet you say?! We thought Nokia were owned by Microsoft and bought with the aim of pushing Windows own operating system. Most of us assumed Nokia was being put out to graze since it sold its phone division to the American tech giant. Seems this isn’t completely the case. Nokia appears to have shunned the grey reins of Microsoft and the N1 could be a big leap in the right direction.

The question whether there is room or not for Nokia’s tablet is a good one? The short answer is yes…it is good enough! Let’s cut to the chase, the new device’s biggest problem is that it looks like the iPad Mini – to be honest that’s hardly a terrible issue to have to deal with. 


Android 5.0 is great and Z Launcher makes it Even Better

Running the already excellent Android 5.0 the Nokia makes the most of its own software, utilising the Z Launcher over the top of the basic Google operating system. The Z launcher is a simple but effective idea. Merely, scribble the first letters of the app you want to open or the function you want to perform on the screen and it will show you a selection of the most likely functions - simple. The more likely you are to use a particular app at a certain time of day, the more likely it will appear when you scribble on the display at that time of day.

The hardware is worth a mention too. From the aluminium chassis run by an Intel 64Bit chip to the fantastic 2048 x 1536 pixel laminated screen, it’s built to impress. And for an expected price of £199 nothing in that price range touches it. Simply, it’s exciting, desirable and it won’t empty your pockets. 


The Next Generation?

In fact, a lot of people in the tech industry herald the arrival of this device as equally as important as the Amazon Kindle’s arrival a few years ago. Amazon introduced a quality tablet for a competitive price, vastly surpassing anything that was even close to its price and it was a huge success. The Nokia N1 could be the entry that introduces a high end, high spec, and high quality tablet for a competitive price. 

Compare it to anything in this price range and nothing touches it. The Nexus 9 is the closest competitor in terms of quality and those’ are £150 more and let’s not even start on the price of an iPad Mini in comparison, albeit still one you’d be mad not to insure

So, to answer the question if there’s a space in the market for a new Nokia tablet? If it’s as revolutionary as it potentially could be, it could be a huge winner and create its own space. In fact, the Nokia N1 could be a game changer!


If you are thinking about buying a new tablet make sure you get it insured, click here for an instant quote today!  

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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Is a Blocked Toilet a Landlord’s Responsibility?

Row.co.uk Blog

Blocked toilets are bad news. Not only does a blockage put a very necessary amenity in your home out of action (especially if it is the only one), it also has the potential to cause serious, not to mention unpleasant, consequences.

If a blocked toilet leads to water backing up and overflowing out of the bowl, usually as a result of repeated flushing to try to shift the problem, you are faced with a flood of sewage water all over the bathroom floor. If your bathroom is on the first floor or higher, this can easily seep through to the ceiling below, perhaps requiring the whole thing to be ripped out and replaced.

Responsibility for blocked toilets can be a bone of contention between landlords and tenants in rented homes. No landlord relishes the prospect of being called out to handle such a problem. Their first instinct will often be to tell their tenant - if you blocked it, you fix it!


Law on liability

This is precisely where the potential for confusion stems from - determining who or what caused any blockage. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which sets the legal foundations for shorthold tenancy agreements, states that a landlord is responsible: 

“to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling for the supply of water, gas, electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences).”

Given that “sanitary conveniences” is a rather odd way of saying ‘toilets’, this passage seems to make it clear - responsibility for keeping them in working order lies with the landlord. However, the Act also sets out certain exceptions, which include stating that the landlord is not liable:

“to carry out works or repairs for which the lessee is liable by virtue of his duty to use the premises in a tenant-like manner, or would be so liable but for an express covenant on his part.”

Again, digging through the convoluted language, this means two things. First, the Act sets out a principle of ‘if you broke it, you fix it’, or in other words, tenants are responsible for fixing anything that is damaged through their misuse. 

Second, the ‘express covenant’ part refers to the terms and conditions in the tenancy agreement. Landlords can use this to set out their own rules for how repair and maintenance responsibilities will be split between themselves and the tenant - an important part of the small print tenants all too often overlook.

So where does that leave us with the need to get a blocked toilet working again, fast? In practice, no landlord can realistically refuse to repair such a problem on the grounds that the tenant caused it without carrying out an inspection. It could be nothing to do with the tenant, in which case the law is clear - the landlord is obliged to keep sanitation facilities in good working order. 

In the case of a blocked toilet, inspection and repair are the same thing - you have to remove the blockage to see what has caused it.

But while a landlord or their plumber may well end up sorting unblocked pipe on these grounds, if they find the problem was caused by something the tenant put down the toilet (wet wipes are the most common culprit), they are entitled to charge them for repair.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

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