Leaks in council flat - Please help?

ladylee25_2

Hi! All,

I wonder if someone out there will be able to help me.

I currently suffer from a disability know as Multiple Scerosis (MS) which impairs my mobility and everything I do from walking, talking etc...

I have been living in my council property for just under years and since living there I have had three major leaks. Which have damaged my interior walls and my wooden flooring.

The 1st leak was to do with the tank storage cupboard and the other other 2 were leaks were from the cracks in ceiling, water coming from upstairs neighbours.

The first time that it happend I wrote letter of complaint along with pictures and just as I thought they did not want to take liability for the damages. So I had to pay for the damages myself. I have now re-decorated the flat again and it has happened again and has damaged my interior walls and floor yet again.

I can not keep afford to pay out like this and it's not even my thought as to why these leaks are happening.

I don't have home insurance and I have written the council another letter giving them 14 days to respond back to me.

I know they are going to say that there not liable yet again but I dont know what steps to take next....

Can some please help?

Ladylee25

pug_in_a_bed

do you know what caused the leaks and did the council take responsibility and repair them?

apologies just reread your post and saw that the leaks were not your fault.

MamaMoo_2

The council will argue that it's only their job to fix the problem, and not to repair any damaged floors/decoration etc.
You could try directly contacting the council's insurance department (a process I'm having to go through at the moment, however in my case damage was done by council employees, however you could try). They may, at least, offer you a decorating grant if you ask for one.
Also, you need to get home insurance. If your house were to burn down, you'd be left with nothing, and the council could argue that it is your place to claim on your insurance. Most local councils do a cheap insurance scheme for their tenants, it may be worth investigating this.

ladylee25_2

Thanks for your feedback pug in the bed and Mamamoo.

Yes, your right I dont have home contents insurance, which alot have people asked me. However, I have been told that even if I did have contents home insurance it wouldn't matter because the damages were not my thought. So by right, it should go through to the councils insurance that they have (like what you are going through at the moment MamaMoo).

My aim is to get the council to pay for the damages that they have made, I dont mind if they give me a decorating grant as you say MamaMoo but I intend for the grant to cover the costs of the damages made as well as the labour needed to do it.

I need to fight this all the way otherwise it will keep happening.

MamaMoo_2

If you phone the council and ask them for their insurance department's details, they'll give them to you, just send them a letter.

I understand what you mean about the damage not being your fault, but I'm guessing the council will say it's an accident, so home insurance would cover you.

If, however, you can prove otherwise, and prove negligence on the part of the council, then you are more likely to have a claim. It won't be easy though. I have before and after photos of my damaged items, and can name the guy who did it, but because he said "I didn't do it, honest boss", I'm having to fight tooth and nail.

Also, if it was a leak caused by your neighbour's negligence, you could possibly claim against them/their home insurance.

arcon5

I've been reading similar cases at LandlordZone forums and the general consensus is they are responsible to maintaining repairing damage to the property only. You would only have a claim if they was in some way negligent.

But tbh isn't that why we have contents insurance? To protect us when things like this happen.