Water from ceiling

CheckDigit

Hello,
I live in a flat within a purpose built estate. Today, a leak appeared in our bathroom. Water is running down into our bathroom. I went upstairs and the people allowed me to have a look at their bathroom. It was bone dry. There is no way that water was coming down from the floor of the flat above. I am assuming that their is a pipe between our flats that is causing the issue. I am in panic about this. What do I do? I have sent an email to the management company but they are all away due to coronavirus. Please can somebody give me some guidance?
Many thanks

davidmcn

Leaks sometimes come from higher up - is there another flat further up? 

greatcrested

Or sideways. Water finds the path of least resistance. Is there an ensuite or kitchen above but to one side?  Check that for leaks eg under the kitchen sink.

How severe is the leak? If serious, pursuade the flat-owner to turn off his water - that should prevent further damage.

If you seriously have no way to contact the freeholder/managing agent, you'll have to call out a plumber - but you'll need the cooperation of the upstairs flat as it might involve lifting floorboards, exposing under the bath (remove bath panel?) or even lifting a shower stand....

Other thoughts - do you have emergency home cover with your insurance? Do you know details of the buildings insurance? You'll have to pay the plumber, as well as make good the flat upstairs, and deal with any claim from the freeholder later......

CheckDigit

greatcrested said:

Or sideways. Water finds the path of least resistance. Is there an ensuite or kitchen above but to one side?  Check that for leaks eg under the kitchen sink.

How severe is the leak? If serious, pursuade the flat-owner to turn off his water - that should prevent further damage.

If you seriously have no way to contact the freeholder/managing agent, you'll have to call out a plumber - but you'll need the cooperation of the upstairs flat as it might involve lifting floorboards, exposing under the bath (remove bath panel?) or even lifting a shower stand....

Other thoughts - do you have emergency home cover with your insurance? Do you know details of the buildings insurance? You'll have to pay the plumber, as well as make good the flat upstairs, and deal with any claim from the freeholder later......

Thanks - The water only leaks when they are using the shower. It is about 10 drops per second and lasts for half an hour and then stops (presumably when they stop using the shower). I intend to phone an emergency plumber. However, since upstairs are renters would I need agreement from their landlord before getting the plumber to check? How do I get the details of their landlord?
I honestly don't have have any idea about the buildings insurance.

davidmcn

CheckDigit said:

greatcrested said:

Or sideways. Water finds the path of least resistance. Is there an ensuite or kitchen above but to one side?  Check that for leaks eg under the kitchen sink.

How severe is the leak? If serious, pursuade the flat-owner to turn off his water - that should prevent further damage.

If you seriously have no way to contact the freeholder/managing agent, you'll have to call out a plumber - but you'll need the cooperation of the upstairs flat as it might involve lifting floorboards, exposing under the bath (remove bath panel?) or even lifting a shower stand....

Other thoughts - do you have emergency home cover with your insurance? Do you know details of the buildings insurance? You'll have to pay the plumber, as well as make good the flat upstairs, and deal with any claim from the freeholder later......

The water only leaks when they are using the shower. It is about 10 drops per second and lasts for half an hour and then stops (presumably when they stop using the shower). I intend to phone an emergency plumber. However, since upstairs are renters would I need agreement from their landlord before getting the plumber to check? How do I get the details of their landlord?

Ok, that's a bit of a clue! When you say it was bone dry, could you actually see all the relevant bits?

You get the details of their landlord from the tenants. But if it's a defect with upstairs' plumbing, it's for them to fix, not your plumber.

xylophone

The water only leaks when they are using the shower. It is about 10 drops per second and lasts for half an hour and then stops (presumably when they stop using the shower). 

Then the problem lies with them? Surely they should be checking the sealant round the shower tray as a start - if that doesn't stop the leak then they should be calling a plumber?

And using the shower when they know it is  leaking and damaging a neighbour's property is very inconsiderate.

CheckDigit

I went back upstairs and they said that it has been fixed. He opened the bath and showed me a pipe and said it was coming from there. I don't know for sure if what he showed me was the cause, but so far the leaking has stopped so I am hopeful the issue has been resolved. Thanks all!

greatcrested

showed you the bath, but it leaks when they shower...? So do they have a shower unit over the bath?

Sounds like it's the waste pipe from the bath (or shower tray if that is a stand-alone shower).

If it's stopped leaking, great. But how much damage has been caused to your ceiling? Your walls? Your possessions?

At the least you need to get their landlord's (the leaseholder's) name and address - or the letting agent if they don't know the LL's address.

* If you have damage, I would write, enclosing a contractor's quote for repairs eg repainting your ceiling/ whatever. I doubt he'll pay, and you'd struggle with a legalclaim, but worth a try. Also write to the freeholder to request details of the buildings insurance - you ought to know this anyway!

* if no damage, I'd still write to their landlord, just so it's on record in case it happens again.

* if the leak is ongoing, again, write to the leaseholder (their landlord) detailing the problem and where you believe it is coming from, and  requesting he fix it urgently before further damage is done to your flat. If he ignores that, he'd be guilty of negligence and then you would have a legal claim against him.