Forced entry....possibly under section 17 - help

AubreyMac

I came back to my flat today (I was last there last weekend) only to find my front door was almost snapped where the locks are and screwed shut from the outside.


I immediately thought I had been burgled and that the neighbour screwed the door shut when they discovered it was open with nobody inside.


I knocked on neighbours door but they were not in (they're a young couple with 2 small kids).


I went to call the police and as it wasn't considered an emergency as such, they said police will attempt to arrive within an hour. In the mean time I called my brother over with a screwdriver to take the screws off. When he unscrewed the 3 screws, we entered and nothing was moved, stolen or trashed. There was a note in the kitchen that said 'you had water leaking from your bathroom sink - London fire brigade'.


The bathroom and kitchen was exactly how I left it, no sign of any damp, leakage or any attempt to shut the water supply off.


The police then arrived and when I explained the note I found, they said that emergency services can force entry under section 17 and whenever they (the police) have had to do it they've left similar notes and the fact that nothing was damaged or stolen indicates the note was legit and it was prob the fire brigade who screwed the door.


I called the freeholder who were less than useless as I own my flat (others in the block are council tenants). I therefore had to call a locksmith so at least my front door now locks and is more secure. I will be invoiced for this and I hate to think how much it'll be - at least a hundred I've been warned!


I can't contact the LFB until Monday to gain more details about this supposed 'leak' (I suspect after entering my property they found out any leak did not come from me at all). My brother knocked on downstairs to try to get any info on the leak but they did not answer (I know they were in as I can hear movement).


I'm wondering do I have to 100% foot the bill for the door? Another thing I need to find out from my freeholder is whether this can be covered by the buildings insurance but I'm doubtful as I was told today they only cover for communal stuff and therefore my front door is my problem.


Being a homeowner is proving to be a big money pit.