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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord and upstairs neighbour dispute and I'm just stuck in the middle...

13 replies

Walkers17 · 15/10/2021 15:07

I've rented a two bed maisonette for the last 5 years with hardly any issues. My landlord is generally pretty good and will fix things as and when needed, unless it has anything to do with the upstairs neighbour. They will argue over who pays for what and I'm normally just stuck in the middle. It's happened on a few occasions. There bathroom is directly above mine and last year their walk in shower was leaking through my ceiling. My landlord wasn't happy to pull down the entire ceiling and the neighbour didn't want to rip up their shower so it went on for 3/4 months until the neighbour eventually gave in and sorted it out. The next thing was they blocked our drains with wet wipes and kitchen roll. The water company confirmed it was only our shared drain that was blocked so they wouldn't fix it unless someone paid up. My landlord refused to pay it as it clearly wasn't me who had blocked it. I live on my own and there are 5 of them upstairs. I also don't use wet wipes or kitchen roll on the toilet Blush. The neighbour eventually payed up a week later but I had to live in a stinking flat until they did.

I've only just noticed that water is dripping out of my bathroom light switch as there was a puddle of water on my bathroom floor. It must be coming from their shower again (I'm not sure where else it would be coming from). I've rang my landlord and he's told me he will get in contact with the neighbour to fix it, but I can just see now how this is going to unravel. There is absolutely no way that they will want to rip up their shower a second time. It's a nightmare. I can also hear them arguing upstairs now (old converted house so the soundproofing is crap) and I heard them say something about the shower Blush it's awkward for me as I have to live here and I'm pretty sure they always just think that I'm causing trouble, when I'm genuinely not. What the hell do I do?

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 15/10/2021 15:15

Im surprised that the property doesnt have a block policy for buildings insurance. That's what typically happens and it covers things like water damage - at least to the things that are covered by buildings insurance - decor, flooring etc

As for what you can do, god knows. Sounds awful. I guess maybe this is a run of bad luck and once the shower is properly fixed that might be the end of it but their attitude clearly stinks.

TaraR2020 · 15/10/2021 15:16

There isn't much you can do, is there? It's between your landlord and your neighbours.

You could speak to your Landlord about how much each dispute impacts you, but I don't know that it will achieve anything.

You could move.

LookItsMeAgain · 15/10/2021 15:26

Is your landlord their landlord too?
Can you come at this from the view point that you haven't caused any of these issues and you're supposed to be able to live in your home without their issues encroaching on your enjoyment of that and that your landlord has a good tenant in you but if this carries on, you will be left with no option but to move? Surely your landlord would want to keep you (because you're not causing issues)??? Would the landlord give them notice or at least tell them not to block drains etc. and as this is the second time the shower has caused issues, it needs more investigating and get the job done right???

starfishmummy · 15/10/2021 15:30

I'd be looking for somewhere else to live. Preferably with no upstairs neighbours!!

SeasonFinale · 15/10/2021 15:31

When I owned a lower flat like this as a landlord I paid for the repairs so that disruption was minimal to the tenant and then had the argument after with the neighbour who was responsible and eventually reimbursed me. Perhaps suggest to the landlord that they could do that?

simitra · 15/10/2021 15:34

Its dreadful when you get pulled into a dispute that is none of your making. I can only advise avoiding the neighbour as much as possible. Its not for you to suggest that the LL evict the other tenants for constantly damaging his property as that is his choice. However you might care to hint at it ...

I got dragged into a dispute between my LL and the NDN over the boundary fence and I absolutely refused to discuss it with the NDN. She wanted me to intervene and I told her she would have to pay me for my time to act as a go between. I am not a professional negotiator.

CallyWW · 15/10/2021 15:43

I would 100% find a new place to live. No one is forcing you to live there. Life is too short to deal with bullshit.

RedMarauder · 15/10/2021 15:49

@Porcupineintherough the excess for water damage is something like £5K. I only know because I know people who are flat owners who have share of freehold, and either them or another joint freeholder has to sort out the buildings insurance.

In other words it was cheaper to sort it out yourself.

Original poster
Walkers17 · 15/10/2021 15:50

Thanks for your replies. My landlord owns 3 flats in the block but not the upstairs one. They own their flat. Obviously I don't really agree that my landlord should have to pay for the costs when it's them causing the issue, but surely I can't be expected to live with a leaking ceiling if the neighbour refuses to pay? I agree he should pay the repairs and then challenge them after. He's probably afraid that they won't reimburse him once the problem is fixed. Moving is easier said than done...

OP posts:
CluelessHamster · 15/10/2021 16:02

I rent and, honestly, I would be looking to move as I just couldn't be arsed with this. By the sound of things it is just going to be one problem after another.

I do understand how difficult and expensive it is to move though.

MatildaIThink · 15/10/2021 16:32

@Walkers17

Thanks for your replies. My landlord owns 3 flats in the block but not the upstairs one. They own their flat. Obviously I don't really agree that my landlord should have to pay for the costs when it's them causing the issue, but surely I can't be expected to live with a leaking ceiling if the neighbour refuses to pay? I agree he should pay the repairs and then challenge them after. He's probably afraid that they won't reimburse him once the problem is fixed. Moving is easier said than done...
The problem is the water leak is in their property, flowing into the landlords. Your landlord could repair the ceiling, but the water leak would still be there causing damage and so it would reoccur the next time they had a shower.

His recourse will ultimately be to take legal action against them, but that is going to take a long time with the current state of the courts.

MatildaTheCat · 15/10/2021 16:48

A leak from a shower isn’t always a huge job to fix. Even a tiny gap in the seals or grout can let water through. It may be worth speaking to the neighbours first and asking them to check. Our shower had a teeny gap in the sealant that opened a few times due to the floorboards which allowed the shower tray to move a fraction. It was annoying but easily put right ( admittedly it was only truly fixed by having it done properly eventually).

anniegun · 15/10/2021 16:51

I think you have no choice but to move. At least you do not own the flat and are having to manage a nightmare neighbour. Being able to move on and avoid these issues is one of the few upsides of being a tenant

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