Water leak from an unco-operative neighbour

dansdan

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice here, I am at a loss!!

My neighbour upstairs (I live in a flat) has got a waterleak coming from one of his drainage pipes - definately not mains water, and I hope not from his toilet! It has been coming in from the ceiling in my airing cupboard where one of the communal waste water pipes runs. This was first noticed at the end of May. I checked my systems and monitored them for a week and mine are leak-free. I noticed water marks coming from where the downspout is, so I called my insurance company for advice, and followed it to the letter.

I went upstairs to my neighbour to let him know, and that I believed the source to be coming from the wash basin in his bathroom (the plumbing arrangements are very similar). He believed it to be an overly frosted freezer which was leaking, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt over this. He had it defrosted and taken away and the leak persisted.

By the third week, following more intermittent dripping, I went to my neighbour again and told him to get it sorted ASAP, and where it was likely to be coming from. He didn't know what to do so I pointed him in the direction of getting in touch with his landlord and that he had nothing to worry about. He said he checked his pipework and it was all dry, and invited me to do the same. I did, but did not go under any floorboards. All of his accessible pipes were dry. I also checked in his airing cupboard (directly above mine) to see if there was any sign of water coming from the property above him, and there wasn't. All pipes were dry. So he phoned his landlord, and came back to me saying the plumber might need access to my property - not a problem. Followed by "I wish you'd told me sooner, I threw out a perfectly good freezer" :mad::mad::mad::mad:

The plumber did not come to me, so obviously access was not needed to my property.

I went away on holiday for a few weeks, hoping all would have been sorted. But today, 7 weeks after letting him know, there was more water dripping into my property. Up I went to ask how the plumber got on, and was told all joints had been tightened up. As I live below him, I usually hear him walking about. At no time, on the day he said the plumber was coming, did I hear any noises of floorboards and the like being lifted. Furthermore, he was very defensive this time and I did feel a bit uncomfortable.

I'm planning on going to the neighbour above him to ask him to check his own out, although this would probably be a waste of time. I'm also thinking I should get a plumber in myself to check mine - even though it is coming from upstairs. I do have the name and address of his letting agent; would I be likely to get anywhere going directly to them or would they be likely to shut my out with the often overused and more often mis-understood Data Protection Act?

I am the owner/occupier of my flat, I do have home insurance, contents insurance and legal protection. A claim for damage repair has been opened but no quotes have been given - I don't want to until it has definately stopped leaking.

The question is, where should I go now? He's obviously getting irate over this (and I am too, but am keeping my cool;)) and I am starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. Should I stop the niceties and go down the legal route and let the insuarnce company take the lead? I am at a loss and need a gentle prod in the right direction:D

By the way, the property is in Scotland - should it make any difference.

eco-friendly_2

Try a search here for the LL of the property, failing that write a recorded letter to the LA. I'ts a waste of time talking to the tenant above.

PasturesNew

It might be part of what the management company sort out in their fees. Piping, in the building, is often down to them.

dansdan

Excellent website, been looking for one like this for ages! :beer: It does only show the address for the letting agent, and not the landlord himself. But not to worry, at least I have a contact.

I feel like I'm wading through treacle, in circles!! He just cannot grasp the fact that this is causing me hassle and that it is his plumbing, not mine, causing the trouble. One of those whose attitude is, "it's not my problem so why should I bother?".

Anyhow... I've been making a diary of events right from the start and will be taking it to the letting agents this morning, together with a bit for them to sign to say they have received it, and I distributed it. Like you say, it's a waste of time speaking to the neigbour:mad:

Only hope it's a co-operative letting agent...

dansdan

Been to the letting agent, neighbour has not been in contact with at all!! Me thinks this is going to be a messy one!