Water gushing from flat on top. Please help!

ZINXYX

Hello good people,
I need help desperately. There is water gushing from the flat above my garage. I discovered it this morning when I was getting the car to do the school run.I can deduce by the volume of water in the garage it started last night.
The said flat is Birmingham City Council owned and the occupant who is a recluse does not appear to be home. I have phoned the council housing department, the environment department and even Severn trent water.The housing dept says the occupant is the only one who can report the issue.:mad:
I have been passed from pillar to post :wall:I simply don't know what to do. I have swept water out several times and put buckets and containers to catch the water.
I desperately need help.I am at my wits end.

olias

Police may be able to help - they have the power to effect entry to protect property. Alternatively contact your household insurers and tell them the steps you have taken so far, and ask for their advice.

Olias

tarsh

Can you work out where their external water stop valve is? For my house it's in the path just outside my property, but may be different for flats.

It's probably illegal for you to turn their water off, but I'd be tempted if I was staying around to talk to the occupant as soon as they turn up.

ZINXYX

I have contacted the Police based on the property protection premise. They directed me to call the Fire brigade and they also say they don't attend flooding anymore because it is chargeable upto £412.
Don't know what to do anymore

googler

If the water is coming from an overflow pipe, and it's accessible by ladder, get a plumber to put some flexible pipe over it, secure it with a jubilee clip or similar, and direct the water toward a drain until you can get access to the flat.

The water's flowing above your garage and getting IN to the garage? Is the roof of your garage defective? What happens when it rains?

Or is it an integral garage?

ZINXYX

Thanks, when it rains it doesn't get into the garage at all. It's certainly coming from his flat, I think it's the bathroom. As for the roof of the garage, I will be posting pictures soon.

southcoastrgi

phone the water board again tell them you have contacted the police & they told you to contact the water board, also tell them if they don't attend you will be putting in a claim against them for any damaged caused to property or goods for their failure to attend (not trying to be sexiest but a woman crying down the phone always helps), try & find their stop c0ck & turn it off.

just as a matter of interest if he is a recluse do you know he is ok as god forbid he may have colapsed in which case the police can force entry to make sure he is ok

GemBlueTopaz1984

I would ring the police and say you are concerned for your neighbour, they could have started running a bath and somethings happened to them.

Bexm

GemBlueTopaz1984 wrote: »

I would ring the police and say you are concerned for your neighbour, they could have started running a bath and somethings happened to them.

I agree with this.
If you think they aren't home and it's been happening since last night it is possible something has happened, unless you know they go out overnight?
Maybe overflowing bath?

ZINXYX

Finally got hold of someone from the housing department who has promised to investigate and call me back with an update. This bureaucracy is ... I don't know. Taken me more than four hours.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I'd definitely be reporting that the upstairs tenant appears to be in trouble on the basis of the flooding.

After all, if they've dropped dead up there, who do the council think is going to report it?