Flooded our flat & our neighbours.

crispycreme_2

I'm not sure if this in the forum to post in, so apologies if not.

We have had a leak from our bath, noticed it yesterday. We live in a flat and have one flat below us. Our hallway ended up flooded and we have had to take up the flooring and dry it out.
Thought we fixed it yesterday, however this morning, still leaking under the bath and their is a huge puddle under the bath.

To make matters worse, it has leaked downstairs into their bathrom and lounge. Obviously we will repair and redecorate for them. I just wanted to know, what can we do about our flat, and then what do we do in regards to downstairs?

I need to get ours sorted first because even though I own responsibility to cover their costs, I need to make sure it doesnt happen again, hence paying out twice, IYKWIM?

Any advice would be great.

crispycreme_2

Meant to say, both us and downstairs private rent. Just didnt know if that makes a differece.

buglawton

Is yours a leasehold flat (most are)? If so you are paying a service company to insure the building and permanent fittings against such mishaps.
If you are on some other arrangement than standard leasehold, check what insurance you do have.
In either case, first stop is the insurance company.

PasturesNew

Please confirm - you and your neighbour are both renters? You don't own the flat?

It depends how the leak was caused. It's unusual for a person to cause a leak from something they did. How did it happen?

This might be something covered by your landlord's insurance.

crispycreme_2

Me and neighbours both rent, yes. I think the leak was caused by a loose tap, not sure how though.

In our building there is a grojnd floor with a large cupboard, 1st floor is just their flT and second floor is our flat. (Only 2 flat building IYSWIM)
Both flats pay a maintenance to the company that owns building

2013yearofthehouse

I guess there are different set-ups, but when my rented flat had a leak in the ceiling, I told the letting agent (which would basically be the same as telling the landlord). The people who take care of the maintenance of the building (who my landlord would be paying a monthly fee to, not me, I just pay rent) then visited both my flat and the one above to investigate the problem - I'm not sure who did the repairs as they were done all in the flat above (I was just left with a water stain on the ceiling).

If I had been the person in the flat above mine and I had caused the leak, then according to my tenancy agreement I would be liable for any excess my landlord had to pay to his insurance company, but supposedly the repairs would be covered by my landlords insurance. I'm not quite sure how the maintenance company fits in though - maybe they would facilitate repairs, doing what they could, but also calling in others if needed - the repair cost would not come out the monthly maintenance fee (that's for communal electric and weekly cleaners etc. I would think), it would come from landlord's insurance.

OP what does your tenancy agreement say about repairs and insurance etc.?