Neighbour complains about minor leak from washing machine.

Viberduo

cte1111 wrote: »

In my old house, I didn't realise I had a leak from my bathroom, until the ceiling fill in on the room below. Each time there probably hadn't been that much water, but over time it had soaked into the timbers, floorboards etc until eventually it soaked the plaster board which fell down. This is what is likely to be happening to the structure between your flat and the one below. That's why your neighbour has every right to complain and why it needs to be fixed ASAP.

A one off leak because the hose has come loose, for example, is quite a different cup of tea to an ongoing repetitive problem like this, it is much worse!

My other theory is that I have lived here 8 months and previous tenants moved due to massive flood from flat upstairs I still see where they replastered in bedroom and bathroom which are next to kitchen, so its possible the floorboards are soaked from that, could be possible that every time I use my machine its loosening some water or plaster, I also notice damp marks in my bathroom wall and minor ones in my wall.

Actually just realised this too, both times he complained was when my upstairs neighbour used her machine and her machine was flooding my flat before I moved in so LL just made a longer pipe and the water drains down the outside wall so its possible that is weakening his walls too, the times when I have used machine and upstairs neighbour was out he has never complained.

car0line123

Viberduo wrote: »

But I only wash my clothes every 7-10 days

... no, nothing.

As everybody else already replied, you must get that fixed urgently. How you can even try to dispute this is beyond me.

Viberduo

car0line123 wrote: »

... no, nothing.

As everybody else already replied, you must get that fixed urgently. How you can even try to dispute this is beyond me.

Dispute what? FYI I was going to fix the machine myself I am trying to work out if its a machine fault, plumbing fault, neighbour is exaggerating etc.

Why are you thinking I am disputing something? the 7-10 days thing was in response to him saying to me he is fed up with it happening but if its ever 7-10 days its not that often especially when machine has only been having problems for under 2 months so means maximum of about 8 times(which is a lot) but more like about 4 times as I was away for about 10 days over christmas and had washing done at parents and was away for 4 days this week so something doesnt add up,

I still think theres a blockage somewhere in my pipe since when I pour water down my sink I never hear it gurgle.

G_M

Viberduo wrote: »

Already reported to LL by email and phone weeks ago who just said its not on the inventory so I have to fix it myself(and reccomended one of their workers to do it cheap)

Does your tenancy agreement specify email as the address to use?

Even if so, you reported this once then gave up? LL (rightly or wrongly) gave you a suggestion to resolve so will now assume you have resolved it.

You need to start acting in a tenant-like manner and deal with this, by
a) ensuring the LL knows the problem is outstanding
b) ensuring he knows there is potential damage to his property
c) ensuring he knows there is potential damage to the other property

If LL still does not resolve, follow Shelter advice on repairs:


Shelter (Repairs in private rented homes)

Better_Days

Viberduo wrote: »

Dispute what? FYI I was going to fix the machine myself I am trying to work out if its a machine fault, plumbing fault, neighbour is exaggerating etc.

Why are you thinking I am disputing something? the 7-10 days thing was in response to him saying to me he is fed up with it happening but if its ever 7-10 days its not that often especially when machine has only been having problems for under 2 months so means maximum of about 8 times(which is a lot) but more like about 4 times as I was away for about 10 days over christmas and had washing done at parents and was away for 4 days this week so something doesnt add up,

I still think theres a blockage somewhere in my pipe since when I pour water down my sink I never hear it gurgle.

:wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall:

MisterB1959

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

You should not affect your neighbour by ANY leak of any size from your home into his!

Kim_kim

I'm confused as to why the OP posted?
He clearly doesn't think the leak is a problem?

Better_Days

OP, we recently removed some lining paper on a wall prior to decoration. There was no indication at all there was a leak.

This is what had happened


The plaster is partly blown, the ceiling is damaged, the insulation in the loft is soaked, the joists are wet (but hopefully still sound). This is all from an intermittent (when it's raining heavily and the wind is blowing in the right direction) leak round the flashing on a chimney stack.

If there are actual drips through the ceiling to your downstairs neighbour, as has been pointed out it is very likely that there is a great deal more water leaking than the drips that can be seen. It will do, and is doing, considerable damage.

There may be an intermittent leak, but there may be an ongoing leak which only drips when the washing machine is on. But the leak may not be related to the washing machine. You need to rule in or out the washing machine urgently. If it isn't the w/m then get back to your LL - again, urgently.

ruggedtoast

Viberduo wrote: »

But the point is his idea of a flood could be different, he could have a few drips in a cereal bowl and say its filled a cereal bowl, he could have a few drips and its still an annoyance, he has only once before mentioned it to me, him saying he is fed up wih it happening could just mean it has happened twice but he isnt clear and I know he hasnt had hundreds of pounds of damage since he has a run down flat he rents as he told me before his LL never does any work to it, plus he hasnt mentioned any damage just that he gets drips that fill a cereal bowl, if he showed me the damage I would prefer it as can use that to push the LL, I do get damp corners in my own kitchen ceiling as the person above me uses machine multiple times a day but only once leaked.

Get an idea of the whole picture of what I am saying rather than assuming that I am just ignoring him, I would stop instantly if he was actually flooded out, but it doesnt add up that a few drips of a machine will flood him unless heres a pipe problem which is seperate from the machine since if I emptied the machine into a bucket with just a few drips then poured water down sink it would seem a pipe issue, it would also explain why he seems to think it has happened more than one occasion but that wouldnt explain why the issue doesnt occur when machine isnt on.

I was going to attempt to fix the machine myself by buying a new pump and attaching it but may just wait to speak to LL on Monday as not going to use machine before then anyway.

What I was trying to get across is that if under the machine is dry, then a few drips that would at most wouldnt fill up anywhere near a cup or pushing it a mug then if he has been flooded then its more likely to be the sink especially when I seem to be having issues with water pressure in the toilet and maybe the shower but the oddity is why it only happens when the washing machine is used.

Goodness me. Water from your flat is leaking into your neighbour's flat and causing damage and you have done nothing to remedy the problem. If I were him I would be more than a bit annoyed.

If he has to claim on his insurance they will probably sue your insurance. When your insurance finds out you did nothing about this problem they will not pay and the costs will be recovered from you.

Davesnave

Earlier this week, I got into a spat through failing to realise the poster was dyslexic, not that it was obvious. I certainly didn't call the poster an idiot, or anything like that.

This time I'll just say one word: Aspergers...and quietly leave.

The rest of you could be here a long time.