Who is responsible for paying for a plumbing leak?

Mr_Carstairs

I wonder if anyone can give me a definitive answer to a problem I am currently faced with, a plumbing leak which affected a neighbour's flat.

To give more detail: I live in a block of 12 leasehold flats managed by a property management company. In December, this company contacted me concerning what was thought to be a leak from the plumbing of my flat affecting the flat below. Upon investigation by a plumber, a leak was found and subsequently repaired and all damage caused was put right. However, my issue relates to who is exactly responsible for paying for the plumber's work?

The plumber's report states that:

"Waste fittings leaking on connection within boxing on communal soil stack (rubber basin adapter not securely sealed into waste pipe causing the leak affecting flat x)"  

The management company insists that, because it was a connection from my flat's plumbing to the communal soil stack, that payment is my responsibility. I find this argument to be somewhat flawed because the fault was the connection between the soil stack and my flat's plumbing: therefore, in my opinion, ultimate responsibility is somewhat abstract.
The sum of money in question is not excessive but can anyone advise whether I am right or wrong in my argument as described above? 

Thanks

Mr Carstairs.

neilmcl

Mr_Carstairs said:

The management company insists that, because it was a connection from my flat's plumbing to the communal soil stack, that payment is my responsibility. I find this argument to be somewhat flawed because the fault was the connection between the soil stack and my flat's plumbing: therefore, in my opinion, ultimate responsibility is somewhat abstract.
The sum of money in question is not excessive but can anyone advise whether I am right or wrong in my argument as described above? 

Why are you finding that "somewhat flawed", it's clear the leak s from your connection to the soil stack, who else is responsible if not you.

Davesnave

neilmcl said:

Mr_Carstairs said:

The management company insists that, because it was a connection from my flat's plumbing to the communal soil stack, that payment is my responsibility. I find this argument to be somewhat flawed because the fault was the connection between the soil stack and my flat's plumbing: therefore, in my opinion, ultimate responsibility is somewhat abstract.
The sum of money in question is not excessive but can anyone advise whether I am right or wrong in my argument as described above? 

Why are you finding that "somewhat flawed", it's clear the leak s from your connection to the soil stack, who else is responsible if not you.

They might be responsible if the leak was pointed-out and they then did nothing about a leak within the flat, but as the joint was concealed and on a communal pipe there seems to be no negligence here.

Isn't this what management have insurance for? Genuine question.

neilmcl

Davesnave said:

neilmcl said:

Mr_Carstairs said:

The management company insists that, because it was a connection from my flat's plumbing to the communal soil stack, that payment is my responsibility. I find this argument to be somewhat flawed because the fault was the connection between the soil stack and my flat's plumbing: therefore, in my opinion, ultimate responsibility is somewhat abstract.
The sum of money in question is not excessive but can anyone advise whether I am right or wrong in my argument as described above? 

Why are you finding that "somewhat flawed", it's clear the leak s from your connection to the soil stack, who else is responsible if not you.

They might be responsible if the leak was pointed-out and they then did nothing about a leak within the flat, but as the joint was concealed and on a communal pipe there seems to be no negligence here.

Isn't this what management have insurance for? Genuine question.

I'm just referring to the cost of the plumbing work rather than any remedial work to the neighbours property as a result of the leak.

bris

It's not about negligence it's about who owns what. The soil stack is part of the building, the connections to it are the lease holders.

The stack isn't faulty, the connection to it was, this is where liability lies and it's an insurance job for the lease holder of the flat concerned. So yes either the lease holder makes an insurance claim or they pay it themselves.