Neighbour complains about minor leak from washing machine.

GwylimT

It is not acceptable to flood a neighbours home just because you can't be bothered to hand wash your clothes or use a laundrette.

You have already states this isn't your landlords responsibility so you must under no circumstance use the washing machine. After the first reported flood you were aware you were causing damage downstairs therefore you are liable to the cost of repairs for your downstairs neighbour.

Flooring and plaster is not water proof, therefore the flooring/flat belowa ceiling would be saturated with water before any seeped through/dripped. Similar happened to me, in a previous home I had a very slow leak so it wasn't noticed until one day two or three drips came through the living room ceiling, so instead of using all my appliances I turned the water off. Despite only see a few drips there was enough damage done that my living room ceiling/bathroom floor had to be completely replaced.

If you lived in a house you would be more than welcome to allow your ceilings to fall through, you are not however as you live in a flat.

It doesn't matter what is wrong with the machine or even sink, just stop using them until you actually do something about it.

moneyistooshorttomention

cte1111 wrote: »

In my old house, I didn't realise I had a leak from my bathroom, until the ceiling fell 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!

I can echo that that is perfectly possible. In my last house I had the bath taken out at one point and replaced by a shower. At that point the workman pointed out to me that water had been getting in under the bath (a fact I hadn't been aware of) and weakening the bathroom floor and that, at some point, that would have happened to such an extent that I would probably have ended up seeing my bath dangling down into my kitchen underneath.

kinger101

Viberduo wrote: »

In his kitchen he says he puts a cereal bowl where it drips and it fills up(but no more than a cereal bowl both times he complained)

It's simple. Wash your clothes in milk instead at the same time he pours out his coco-pops. Two birds, one stone.

nobblyned

Grab a cereal bowl, fill it with water, throw it on your kitchen floor. Still think it's not very much?

SnooksNJ

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.

Sounds like a plan. I mean it's not like he has a flood of biblical proportions so what's a couple drops of water coming from the ceiling onto his kitchen floor.

Hoploz

Any drip however small in your neighbour's property is unacceptable and must be fixed straightaway. That much is established.

Is the washing machine yours or your landlord's? If it is LL's he must get it repaired. G_M has given you advice on how to approach that.

If it is yours then you must. If it is yours and you cannot diagnose the leak yourself then just get a repairman in. You will have to pay and that is unfortunate, but otherwise you will be responsible for the neighbour's repairs.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Davesnave wrote: »

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.

I don't consider it other people's responsibility to try and guess what disability, if any, other forum users might have. Aspergers, Autism, dyslexia, mad cow disease...whatever. I assume every person is of sound mind and body unless told otherwise. Therefore, I am going to assume that the OP is being somewhat dense and rather unfair towards his neighbour.

Pixie5740

OP, did your LL ever sort out the other problems with your kitchen?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5123950

I should also point out that this property is in SCOTLAND.

It does not matter if the washing machine is not listed in the inventory or not, your LL supplied it so he is responsible for repairing it. See Shelter Scotland's website about Furniture and Equipment.

Also see Shelter Scotland's guide to reporting repairs to your LL.

You could also give your neighbour your LL's contact details so that your neighbour can contact him too.

Viberduo

ruggedtoast wrote: »

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.

Goodness me someone who doesnt know what they are talking about is posting

DID I SAY I WILL USE WASHING MACHINE AGAIN! DID I SAY THERE WASNT A PROBLEM

What I was saying is that the problem may not be as bad as he says, people are just quick to jump on the worse case scenario, I get a damp ceiling from my neighbour above me and one day a few months ago did get what would be a leak with trickles down the wall, it could be exactly the same he has but to him its a flood, just like he says it goes in a cereal bowl but that doesnt mean its full near the top, I am trying to work out how bad the leak is since something doesnt add up

Why do people so stupid they assume things that never happened, its stupid to go on about potential damage when I never said I would be using it especially when I mentioned about recontacting the landlord, why does everything have to be spelled out for people who then skim parts or talk about what you didnt say?

And to other posters yes I am autistic,

thorsoak

1. Are you and your downstairs neighbour owners or tenants?

2. If tenants, who provides washing machine?

3. Are you insured/does your landlord provide insurance?

4. Have you informed landlord or insurance company?