Flooded kitchen and bedroom due to upstairs neighbours faulty piping

scoobs910

Any advice gratefully received.. Upstairs neighbour, who’s caused significant damage to my home, has offered to repair and replace, rather than go through his insurance!  My worry is, how can I ensure he does pay like for like and hotel bills etc (bedroom ruined)

bryanb

It’s not down to his insurance. That’s what you have insurance for. Your ins may chase his later

sjones12121994

It’s understandable to be concerned about this situation. If your neighbour is offering to repair the damage without going through insurance, it's crucial to protect yourself. Here's what you can do:

1. Get Everything in Writing: Ensure that all agreements are documented, including the scope of repairs, costs, timelines, and who will cover additional expenses like hotel bills. This way, you have a clear record if things don’t go as planned.

2. Consult a Professional: You might want to get a few quotes from licensed contractors for the repairs to ensure that the work is up to standard. You could then use these quotes as a baseline to negotiate with your neighbour.

3. Consider a Legal Agreement: It may be worth speaking to a solicitor to draft a simple agreement. This could outline the terms of payment and what happens if your neighbour fails to follow through.

4. Stay Involved: If you agree to this arrangement, make sure you’re involved in the process, overseeing the work and ensuring that it meets your expectations.

5. Plan for the Worst: Finally, consider whether this might be a situation where going through insurance is safer. While it might seem simpler to avoid it, insurance can provide a level of security if something goes wrong.

Taking these steps can help ensure that you’re not left out of pocket or with subpar repairs.

RAS

It's your insurance who need to be informed and specify the repairs. They'll extract the money from Mr Upstairs or his insurer.