Help! Water coming into my flat!

Precious_Thing

Hi,

I am a leaseholder of a first floor flat. I have a very large front window and I woke up this morning to find water all over my window sill and down onto the carpet. The guttering is totally frozen outside and water is dripping in through gaps in the window sealant.

I have phoned the leasehold team as they deal with the outside of my property. So far no-one has come out to inspect it. I have had slight water problems before when there's been very heavy rain and had Anglian out. All they did each time was put a sealant on the outside. It never lasted.

I'm worried that due to this weather, water could come in at other places in my window at any time. It's now coming in at 3 different places.

What should be done to fix this? I know nothing about it. Should the Council clear out the guttering of ice so at least for now, no more water will come in? Anglian, who installed my double glazing, have been useless, but I don't know if any of the responsibility is theirs.

Anyone have any ideas? I would be very grateful for any help.

Thank you,

Precious Thing.

morg_monster

I think you need to give the "leasehold team" a chance to come out and look at it. I don't know how much snow you've had but if the roads are icy and conditions poor it may take them longer than usual to get round to you. Did they give you an idea when you rang of when they'd be there?

I'm unsure why you think the council should clear your gutters - is the block of flats council maintained? I should imagine the only way to clear the downpipe of ice is to pour boiling water down it. Not something you should do yourself in these conditions I would think! Anyway it would soon freeze up again in this weather and you'd be back to square one. I'd give the leasehold team a chance to get over to you and stay in contact with them so you know when they are coming and can get on their backs if they don't arrive.

Precious_Thing

The block is a Council block, so they maintain the outside of the property and I pay buildings insurance through them (no choice in that).

I have spoken to someone in the Leasehold team several times today. They have said that as I live in a first floor flat (one person underneath me and no-one on top), they will not do any inspection of the roof due to Health and Safety, i.e they will not put anyone up a ladder in these conditions.

There is a lot of snow here and the gutters are completely iced up with large icicles hanging down.

The person from the Leasehold Team has been very helpful but has basically said that I just have to put up with the dripping water until all the snow has cleared and they can inspect the roof. That could be weeks!

I can put up with it the way it is at the moment, although I'm concerned, but I'm more worried about it getting worse and water starting to pour in.

Thanks,

Precious Thing.

morg_monster

Gosh sounds like you are at a bit of an impasse. I do agree that it would be extremely foolish to go up a ladder in these icy conditions but on the other hand the longer they continue the longer you have these probs.
Is it the downpipe that is blocked? if so, can you reach it from your window? Don't do anything dangerous, but I was thinking that if say the downpipe runs close to the window, could you use a hairdryer or something to thaw it to allow any meltwater to drain away? Although, this may not help anyway, as it probably isn't "true" meltwater really, as it's probably below freezing outside, but rather melted by the heat of your house.

I guess if Anglian could put the sealant on again it might solve the problem short term at least, until the weather improves, but I guess they will have the same response about their people going up ladders on icy ground. Unless they did it from inside?

Precious_Thing

I now know it is holes in the part of the roof that lies over my main window that are letting water in. Yesterday everything froze up so nothing came in, but now I have 5 pots and basins collecting water. Again the Council have said there is nothing they can do until conditions improve.

There is an inspector coming out a week on Monday. I work Tuesday-Thursday so couldn't be in any of those days, so I guess I'll have to wait until then. However, I imagine all the inspector will do is confirm the holes in the roof which are marked down to be fixed in 3 months time!! I can't believe I'm expected to put up with water coming in and expected to go to work leaving my flat in this state.

Precious Thing.