Leak Through Ceiling - Pls Help

pennypincher3562

Hi

I've water leaking from my hall, cupboard, and bedroom ceilings since Thursday. The water is now threatening my combi boiler (as its pooling on it, though I'm trying to prevent that.) Also Im concerned about the electricity box, as a patch is appearing above that.

Plumber out on 3 occasions at considerable expense:

- first time, he reckoned the leak was coming from neighbours above
- 2nd time he pulled up neighbours floorboards, and 'cleared' them. They began to suggest the problem is 'mine.'
- 3rd time, he claims he has found the leak, and its under the neighbours bath, and has 'sorted it.' The plumber says we need to wait, as the water 'is working its way through the ceiling space slowly.'

13 hours later and I don't see the leak slowing. If anything the patch near the electricity is growing again. My electricity is still on, but the boiler is off (no heating, or cold water.)

Can someone please advise me what to do next? The plumber has told me to leave it for another 24 hours (to see if leak stops,) but Im really not convinced.

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

cyclonebri1

He may or may not be correct, but, if it's single drip point over the boiler use a pan, a bucket or bowl etc to catch the water.

A lot of water can be caught by say a bath towel on top of the boiler, better than intrusive drips.

If it's from the neighbour's bathroom I thing it's still your insurance that is liable, you need to check that 1 out as you will likely need to claim.
Please don't say you aren't insured, (without offence).

pennypincher3562

Thanks CycloneBri1

Thanks, yes certainly insured, it's a legal obligation in this flat.

I'm finally getting somewhere on this one. The leak always go off after the neighbours above, turn their water supply off. I'm 99.999% sure it's now their legal obligation to sort things out.

Plumber coming out again in next hour.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

FiremanDave

You mean the leak stops when their stopcock is turned off?

If that's the case you can either present your bills to the flat owner to pay or pass onto their insurance. Or claim off your own and they will try and claim it back off their insurance.

pennypincher3562

Thanks Fireman, I'm trying to get through this one step at a time. Yes, the leak stops roughly 3 hours after they turn their water off at the stopcock. The delay is because the water has to slowly make its way through concrete panelling in the ceiling.

The issue at the moment, is convincing them that the problem is theirs, and finding the leak (not found yet.) I think its going to involve tearing up a lot of flooring :-(

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

DTDfanBoy

FiremanDave wrote: »

You mean the leak stops when their stopcock is turned off?

If that's the case you can either present your bills to the flat owner to pay or pass onto their insurance. Or claim off your own and they will try and claim it back off their insurance.

Don't go upsetting your neighbour by making demands for payment

Unless they have been negligent in some way any damage to your flat is the responsibility of you and your insurers to rectify.

pennypincher3562

Yes thanks DTDfanBoy, I know you are right, I need to claim on my insurance.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

pennypincher3562

The leak is finally fixed, and it was indeed my neighbour's liability.

Should I request that my neighbour pay my insurance excess, or just wait and see if they offer to?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

cyclonebri1

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

Don't go upsetting your neighbour by making demands for payment

Unless they have been negligent in some way any damage to your flat is the responsibility of you and your insurers to rectify.

Exactly, this is what insurance is for, unless it happens repeatedly after they are informed it won't be seen as negligent.


PP, they have no obligation to do so, you are in a position that many of us find our selves in.
Ask yourself which is most important, your continuing relations with the upstairs folks or the Ins excess?


I'd go as far as dropping it out in conversation that it has cost you, if they feel guilty enough they might just offer something, but to my mind don't push it at them.

Plumber90

If the leak is from the neighbours flat above why is it down to the op to sort it out. Surely the damage is the neighbours fault so it is their job to pay for / sort out any damage???

pennypincher3562

Thanks, I've been advised by several people not to chase after them repaying excess. I won't pursue them for the excess, but given that I don't have any income at the moment, and wasn't liable in any way, it doesn't seem fair.

I will wait and see what happens.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562