Leak Advice
If you have a leak coming into your flat from a flat above please take the following action (or ensure your tenant does where the flat is let)
​
-
Use containers to catch any water coming in to stop water spreading to the flat below. You have a duty to take reasonable action to reduce damage. Please note that you should only call the Fire Brigade if a lot of water is coming into the property, not just drips and it is clear the problem is not already being sorted.
-
Knock on the flat upstairs and if they are in, ask them to see if they can find out what is happening. It could be for example an over flowing bath or pipe from washing machine that has become loose. If there is nothing obvious and they are the flat owner they are responsible for arranging a plumber to investigate. If they are a tenant they are responsible for contacting their landlord/agent. If no-one is in please leave a note asking them to knock on your door.
-
Monitor when water is coming in. If it is constant over a day/two days it is likely to be a pipe that supplies water or water tank. If it is intermittent it could be the washing machine or when someone has a bath/shower or uses a sink.
-
On the next working day let Flatcare know of the situation.
-
When Flatcare is made aware of a leak and the owner of the flat is a non resident we will attempt to contact the flat owner above. If we have to leave a message/send an email we will do so. If we do not hear back from the flat owner we may pass this owner’s contact number to the owner/agent of the flat below to try and contact them out of office hours. This is in the flat owners interest as the owner of the flat above is liable at least for all costs up to the insurance excess limit.
-
Flatcare may charge the owner of the flat causing the leak for the time spent in dealing with the issue.
-
The responsibility of making an insurance claim is with the owner who has had the damage to their flat.
-
Please note that when the cause of a leak is fixed, residual water may still enter the flat below for a couple more days.
-
When the leak has dried we recommend that both owners speak to each other about damage repairs.
-
In most non-severe cases ceilings can be painted when dry with a stain block and then paint and the cost of this should not normally exceed the insurance excess.
Most common types of leaks
-
From a washing machine, especially after someone has moved out or in.
-
Waste pipe loose under bath or where waste pipe connects with soil stack.
-
Poor seals around bath so water runs down walls onto floor under bath.
-
Seals around toilet waste.
-
Pipes supplying water under sinks/bath.
-
Fractured central heating pipes that are buried under the floors.
-
Carelessness - examples seen of residents bathing by throwing buckets of water over them or showering without proper screens being used in the bath.