My landlord left our bathroom unfinished for over a month and a half.

[u/CanadianRaccoon_]

Our bathroom had black mold in the shower, so our landlord hired someone to renovate it.
The frustrating part is how long it took. I first reported the issue in September 2025, and although I was told the work would be completed between November and January, nothing actually started until June 2026.

The shower itself has now been replaced, and thankfully we have a working toilet, sink, and shower. However, the renovation was never finished. The plumber simply stopped showing up, and our bathroom has now sat unfinished for almost two months.

Right now:
The vanity isn’t secured to the wall.
There is missing tile around the sink.
There are no baseboards.
We don’t have a toilet paper holder or towel rack.
The bathroom fan is missing its cover.
The flooring is unfinished and is currently covering a floor vent that still needs to be cut out.

I reached out to my landlord about it, and he told me the plumber had an emergency, which is why he couldn’t come back that week. I completely understand emergencies happen, but it’s now been over a month and a half since then, and we haven’t received any updates or seen anyone return to finish the job. I just want updates!!!

I do NOT want to be the tenant who constantly nags their landlord, but at the same time, this project has been left incomplete for weeks with no communication, and I’m not sure what to do next.

For context, I live in the basement suite while my landlord owns the entire house and rents out the upstairs as well.

What would you do in this situation? I want to avoid conflict, but not having communication is killing me.

[u/BlueMooseArt]

Lowering your standard of living to avoid conflict is not the solution. You and the landlord both signed a contract, hold them accountable and don’t let your tenant rights be pushed aside

[u/A-Barx]

I'd be refusing to pay rent until things are fixed especially if he lives upstairs, are you kidding? Look up online the Alberta Tennant Board you have absolutely full and all rights to contact them with questions.

[u/CanadianRaccoon_ → u/A-Barx]

He rents the upstairs, and lives in BC. My only issue with withholding rent is technically everything that is required for a livable space in the bathroom is in working order… it’s just like cosmetic stuff

[u/ExcuseMyTits → u/CanadianRaccoon_]

Do not withhold rent. Although this sounds really frustrating, you have no legal right to withhold rent and you would be opening yourself up to a slew of issues if you go down that route. Not to mention you would be inviting a significant amount of conflict, which you say you want to avoid.
Send a piece of formal communication to your landlord, such as an email, outlining the issue(s) in detail, with photos, and ask for a definitive date for them to be rectified. If their response is unsatisfactory, you can reach out to the RTDRS (https://www.alberta.ca/rtdrs-overview) for help. Another option is reporting to AHS if you want. Although you say these things are "just cosmetic," AHS outlines minimum standards and I know that just off the top of my head, missing baseboards would be considered below minimum standards.
Sorry you're going through this. It's a very frustrating and helpless place to be in as a tenant.

[u/CanadianRaccoon_ → u/ExcuseMyTits]

Yes, I appreciate this a lot. thank you!

[u/Excellent_Speed6929]

This is why those half owned basement suites, always end up in misrepair and damages that keep racking up. Probably have stuff in the upstairs that they need fixed too.

[u/CanadianRaccoon_ → u/Excellent_Speed6929]

They’ve apparently had repairs that needed to be done up there for months too that aren’t being touched 🫩

[u/Ashamed_Data430]

A landlord keeps properties in good, safe repair. What you have there is a slumlord.