Guardianship Downstairs Flooding

MissJoanna

I'm a guardian in a place that's due to be demolished in a year or two and I've been living here for 3 years.
Today I came home from the Dentist and found to my shock that the warm kitchen tap was on and much of the flat was flooded. I spend the next hour doing everything I could to mop up the water and so on. I have had a flood before due to a faulty washing machine and because Guardians get inspected I once had to tell the guy who came to see the place that it had happened and that I had cleaned it up. He said that there wasn't anyone living below me so tonight I thought it was just something I would have to deal with>
Then an hour later there was a knock at the door.
She said, "Hello, I’m from the surgery downstairs and there’s water coming in and the roof is coming in."
I told her what happened with the tap. saying I left it on, but I have no recollection of turning it on to start with.

 She asked me if there is a broken pipe or anything as ‘that’s what I’m most worried about’. I said no 'not at all the tap is off and I’m cleaning it u'p. She seemed a bit relieved.

She said that someone would have to pay for the damage and we’ll sort it out on Monday.

I said I was very sorry.

I didn’t go downstairs to look at it straight away because I was caught off-guard and was half naked and wet.

I then went down at about 8pm but no one was there.

This has been a shock for me and her I am sure and because it's Friday night and I don't have a lot of money or any home insurance (or tenancy rights for that matter), I'm very worried. I wish I had gone down to look at the damage, but as I said, I was just shocked and not dressed.
Can anyone lend any light on what may happen, as I really can't deal with being thrown out and being saddled with a huge amount of debt is really scary for obvious reasons.
Naturally I feel very guilty especially if I did leave it on, though I just can't remember that happening before I left.
Thanks in advance.

greatcrested

I'm not sure how guardian arrangements work legally, but isn't the whole point that the owner has someone on site to look after the place? As opposed to someone who floods the place?

MissJoanna

greatcrested said:

I'm not sure how guardian arrangements work legally, but isn't the whole point that the owner has someone on site to look after the place? As opposed to someone who floods the place?

A guardian is supposed to look after the place that's right. Guardians are human and make mistakes. Have you ever made a mistake? I think that your comment was very unpleasant, but you know that.

carefullycautious

You need to get in touch with the owner ASAP and explain what you have told us. It does not matter how or who turned the tap on it has caused damage.

theartfullodger

Guardians have been found in different cases as both full tenancies (AST) - not what the paperwork says - so eviction only by court order, deposit protection etc OR what the guardian arrangements say on paper.  Call Shelter 0808 800 4444 free helpline to overworked charity.

It all depends on what actually happens in the building, paperwork and behaviours of the two parties.

Flood, yeuch, so sorry.  Good luck!

HampshireH

As a guardian were you sourced / provided through a security company and therefore fall under their insurance as part of the contract with the landlord.

Or are you solely under a contract with the landlord.

You definitely need to notify them immediately. Call and back it up with an email.

I doubt many surgeries are open at 8pm on a Saturday but it's a bit confusing as you say that previously you were told no one was living there... Which they wouldn't be in a commercial unit. 

[Deleted User]

Guardians normally are found through guardianship companies like Camelot. I believe they make profit at both ends, charging hefty fees to both the guardian (aka licensee/disguised tenant), and to the property owner. 

So you'd hope they'd have insurance to cover cases like this. But don't be surprised if they don't!

https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2020/1/property-guardian-firm-found-guilty--now-trading-under-new-name?source=newsticker