no access to external stop cock allowed - emergency today.

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I live in HA flats, there are 4 flats in my building. They are fairly new (3yo).

When we moved in we still had builders electric, water etc. After 4 months this stopped and myself and neighbours set up water meters etc. When the first bill appeared it siad I'd used no water so I went down to the cupboard and me and neighbours who's bills were obviously wrong (1 empty flat, 1 family with lowest bill, 1 single lady with highest bill, 1 lone parent family (me) with no bill)

Eventually it was sorted although water co were NOT helpful but cupboard had been locked at this point.

We asked for a key in case of emergencies as external stop clocks are in there but denied as its not our property. Much arguing with HA who didn't relent.

Anyway today plumber came to fix neighbours shower and on touching the pipe it came apart in his hands and shot water EVERYWHERE. I was comming in from getting my washing and not realising slipped and twisted my ankle.

Plumber came running in from outside and asked me where external stop cock was and said in the locked cupboard.

Plumber then had to stand inside airing cupboard and put pipe back together before internal stop cock could be switched off.

By this point the communal hallway was under 1" water and so I went upstairs and got all my towels and laid them down.

Now HA have been brill as was the plumber employed by them.

We again highlighted the importance of NEEDING access to external stop cock as the amount of damage ocured in 5 minutes was huge. (electrics, 3 flooded carpets etc).

On talking to housing officer all my neighbour got was 'well this happens in private houses too'

'YES but they can access the stop cock'

If this had been nighttime when it burst open then the damage done would have been phemonimal (espically if it had been a 1st floor flat) and stopping the wtare is cruical in leaks.

BIG boss came out and explained they have 1 key that opens all the cupboards and we can't have access to those. I suggested getting just one different lock for that cupboard with key for them. water co and resisdents. But they don't want to many keys to carry . 1 more is obviosly too much.

I am now washing and tumbling all my and neighbours towels

AIBU to think that we should be given access now in light of the situation and if they still refuse WWYD?

Sorry for the rant but so cross for neighbour.

Send them a bill for all the damage caused, and point out that if you'd had access to the stopcock, there wouldn't have been a problem - they might think again!

This is a bit weird and I'm not sure of the legal aspects, but where my mum and stepdad live, there is a nominated neighbour who hangs onto the keys for things like the cleaning cupboard in the communal area (they live in a house but on a complex, bit hard to explain!) and the bin cupboards. I see little reason as to why that would not be appropriate in your case. Perhaps ask the HA about it?

thanks lucylou this was the original suggestion 2 1/2 yrs ago but its been point blank no. Even now.

They have de aqua vacced the carpet and brought dehumidifyer and being a maths brainiac I have logged neighbours electric and will compare consumption over this week against their yearly average. Same for the metered water that went everywhere. They had no electrics and we dicovered our communal plugs only work with a key which we don't have so I let HA maintenence use my electric with extension to aquavac before electrician fixed fused power.

My neighbour has said she will try and claim electricity recomp for me for tumble and aquavac. But I just feel for her.

anybody else have the same situation?

Are there no stop cocks inside the flats?
If there are shouldnt he plumber have turned it off before working on anything?

there 3 stop cocoks to separate pipes but the plumber was trying to turn of the stop cock when the pipe burst. It had to be put back together before to stop the water.

Next time just smash the lock off. Seriously. What are they going to do about it?

I actually work for a water company, the esv is the property of the local water authority and the HA has to let you/WA have access to it. Does your property not have an internal sv? Which area are you in?

yes flats have 3 internal stop valve in the airing cupboard but it was this pipe that burst and stop valve came off. The delay and hence much more damage was caused by the fact bit of broken pipe had to be screwed back on by the olive before the valve could be switched off. It it could have been isolated at the source it would have been much less severe and electrics would've survived. The poor plumber was soaked.

HA has a key to esv so does water co who weren't prepared to come out as they said it wasn't there property. Its portsmouth water.

I would get back onto WA and HA. ESV definately without doubt owned by WA, the plumber should have been able to operate it if he was water authority approved (which he almost certainly would be if employed or contracted by HA especially considering HA have a key)

I think problem possibly caused due to conflict over whose responsibilty to pay for WA callout (however as above plumber could have done this himself without WA being there.)

If it was requested that WA attend, there would be a charge- if HA had not agreed to this and no purchase order or card details taken they would not attend, with fear of dispute over payment.

I think based on this you really need to contact HA and ask why in this situation they did not just arrange one of the above- and why more than anything the plumber could not do this himself?!

However I am basing this on my WA policy which may be slightly different- although all WA have to adhere to OFWAT rulings so will be very similar if not same.

thanks loola2shu thats great advice and i'll contact ha again.