We live in a downstairs maisonette, and the bathroom upstairs is above our living room at the back. This week, water started dripping through from upstairs and down the walls, and causing the paint to bubble. Upstairs neighbours are away until tomorrow but we’ve let them know – no idea if there’s damage in their bathroom! This morning it had got worse, so we turned off the water, it’s a shared stopcock to both flats, and that’s stopped the dripping so it must be in the pipes. We don’t have a spare key, and they have not long moved in so haven’t given anyone a spare yet anyway.
They’re back tomorrow and said they’d get a plumber – I’ve told them we had to turn off the water until that happens and they’ve just replied asking haven’t we had someone in to check it? I’m not sure what to say…it’s definitely coming from upstairs and we can’t get in there, I’ve sent them photos so it’s easy to see where it’s coming from and the only water pipes in that part of the building are in their bathroom. I think they’re a bit annoyed/worried that we’ve turned off the water, but I’d rather that than our ceiling coming down or water leaking into our electrics. I’m not sure what they expect us to do until they get back and can get into their flat…is there something else we should be doing in the meantime? As far as insurance, do we need to let ours know? The pipes are theirs and according to the lease they are responsible for them (it’s a share of freehold, we both own).