Bathroom Ceiling about to fall down

Pingu1

I've got a serious problem with my bathroom ceiling. Its now sagging quite a bit, with a massive crack. There are some brown water marks which I think indicate water damage. Above me is another flat and their bathroom. I've been informed my pipes run underneath the floor, so it has to be the bathroom above. I'm not sure what to do? Is there any way to check? Rightfully I think my neighbour should pay for the repair, but if he/she doesn't? Can I go to the Freeholder and complain?

Little_bit_taller

Have you spoken to the neighbour before? What are they like?

mexican_dave

If this were my bathroom, I would put a bucket under the lowest point in the bulge and bang a screwdriver through that point - by hand only, so as not damage hidden pipes above - also hoping not to hit a beam. Any water up there should drain down into your bucket - take a photo for reference. Warning the "water" is not likely to be clean, you don't know what sort of leak this is! Take care.
This is virtually standard practice and could save the whole ceiling coming down! Saving you a lot of mess and inconvenience.
I will let others advise on how you tackle the repairs with neighbour/freeholder, not my bag.

Keep_pedalling

Your neighbour will only be responsible if they been negligent which is highly unlikely if they have a hidden leak under their floor. This should however be covered by the freeholder’s building insurence.

nofoollikeold

1. Your first step is to tell the upstairs neighbour.  Once they have been informed, if they don't get it repaired in reasonable time, they will be liable for any further damage to your property arising from the leak.  Do it in writing.  I would give them a copy, but also post one with "proof of posting" to avoid subsequent arguments.  
2. As Keep-pedalling says, unlikely to be your neighbour's problem if it is an "act of God".  
3. Many buildings policies now have excesses of £1,000 or even more, which the freehold company may well pass on to leaseholders.  This can make it not worthwhile to claim, so you may be facing paying for repairs yourself.  
4. Report it to the management company as well.

Chieveley

Daughter had this. repairs were done by the management company under an insurance claim. She had to get the artex tested for asbestos before they took it down, made good the ceiling and repainted that and the walls.

Pingu1

Help, the ceiling has now collapsed. Rubble went everywhere, water is dripping through.

Pingu1

My neighbour says its not coming from his bathroom.

ThisIsWeird

It doesn't matter what's causing it, the ceiling and the concealed pipes are 'buildings', so get in touch with the Freeholder or Management Co and tell them.

And have a bludy good reason why you didn't contact them before now.
Hopefully more damage has not been caused by the delay. 

ThisIsWeird

It's up to the FH/management team how to sort this. If they 'own' a good number of properties, there's a fair chance they have plumbers and builders they use regularly, so may just call on them to sort it, and pay for this via a hopefully-accumulated sink-fund. Or, they put in an insurance claim.
But it's for them to sort. It's unlikely that anyone was to 'blame' for this, unless the upstairs flat LH was dodgy-DIYing, but that's not for you to concern yourself about.
Your job now is to try and prevent any further damage - you are collecting these drips, aren't you?
And have a good look at your bathroom at what needs to be replaced - if it's 'contents', then that'll likely be on your own Contents insurance.

Bigphil1474

Bit harsh - first post was only yesterday evening, a Sunday.