Leak and poor contractors - WWYD?

johnsof75

 I live in a large apartment complex - nearly 1000 flats. I am on the top /8th floor of my building. In the basement of the complex is a gym.

On Friday the managing agent got in touch to say they need access to my flat. They are doing an investigation as the gym has a leak - and they are starting from the top to 'rule flats out' . My immediate reaction is to say yes (it is a term of my lease and I know how awful leaks can be) however, unfortunately. I have been stung by agreeing to this approach before and wondered what you would do in the circumstances (see below).

On two different occasions I let the workman employed by the managing agent in to search for a leak. On the first occasion they cut a panel out of a wall in my bedroom that covers a pipe that runs through my flat but services another building. They couldn't find the leak and left me with a hole in my bedroom wall and exposed pipes for over ten months. Prior to the work they had assured me they would 'make good' any damage in a timely fashion - but they didn't. It took over ten months for them to plaster the hole and then they insisted they would only use Dulux paint despite the rest of the room being in Farrow and Ball (ie different shades) so I had to pay for new paint and someone else to do it . I also had to take a lot of time off work to be present for all their visits - they often didn't turn up. I complained to the managing agent but they didn't do anything.

On the second occasion they ripped my bathroom apart looking for a leak - again couldn't find anything. They damaged the side of the bath when they took it off (it couldn't be put back) and sawed off part of the wooden box that covered the water pipes leaving them exposed. Again I put in formal complaints to the managing agent and the residents association but nothing was done. The damage they had caused wasn't fixed. The Residents Association said they didn't want to get involved- they prepared to focus on service charge issues.

Finally I had a leak from another building (the penthouse). My kitchen was destroyed - the managing agent claimed on the building insurance (paid for through the service charge) but insisted that I had to use their contractors. It took them over a year to replace the kitchen - during which time I had to use camping equipment! and , despite my having to pay additional costs to get like for like, the job wasn't finished properly, for example they still haven't fitted the trim, to open the washing machine you have to open the fridge, some of the cupboards didn't have a bottom shelf so you can't put anything in them/its just an empty hole etc...I have formally complained but again got nowhere. The Ombudsman said they dont deal with issues like quality of service etc so I have literally nowhere to go - I can't afford to make a civil claim.

So I am very nervous about letting them into my flat again. I want to be helpful but am worried about the damage they may do. I have only just had a new bathroom put in (following the damage they caused) and have a new carpet throughout the flat . I dont want them to damage it all again. I have spoken to my neighbours below (on the 7th,  6th and 4th  floors) and they have all said they haven't got a leak coming into their flats/they have no damage. I know this doesn't mean that I dont have a leak but think it may make it less likely? What to do? The contractors don't work weekends so have said they will come out sometime this week between 9-4. I am due to be in work but feel nervous about leaving keys. WWYD?

Bigphil1474

Tell them they can come in and do a visual check but they can't do any damage whatsoever.

They are a bit daft though. Surely you would start at the bottom until you find someone who isn't affected by a leak and start with them as the likely source.