In despair about this. AIBU?

[meaningofnight]

Last night we got home to find water dripping through the hall ceiling from the flat above. No-one was in above (tenants), so we phoned the owner of the flat who said "Oh yes they had a flood a couple of days ago and I called a plumber, but he couldn't find anything so he just went away."
I came home from work early in case their plumber (now recalled) needed access to our flat to be told that the plumber isn't coming until Monday.
Feel mightily fed up that we have to put up with a dripping ceiling for 4 days. It's not pouring down or anything - just a constant slow drip (filled bottom of saucepan overnight). AIBU?

A couple of other things I thought of....

Is your building maintained by a factor? Maybe they would deal with it for you, usually buildings insurance is included in the factor fee.

Also, as part of your insurance cover you may have 'home emergency' included, which would give you access to a free emergency repair which wouldn't carry an excess or count against no claims.

this kind of thing has happened to me. Except I was the one flooding downstairs My washingmachine pipe wasnt connected properly and every time I used it, it would slowly come out. The lady downstairs had passed away so it wasnt found until her sister was showing a potential buyer around. double . We all have our buildings ins paid for us, so they claimed through that thankfully.
I felt absolutely awful and dealt with it literally as soon as I found out.

This woman sound like a right cow.

Result! Plumber has arrived, but appears to be 12 year old girl. Thank God.

that's good, she will be able to squeeze into tiny spaces and mend things

Cool, a female plumber! I've heard tell of this rare breed but never met one.

Have never been so pleased to see 12 year old girl in my life.
She all in blue overalls with big tool bag and belt and looking ultra sensible and competent.
Impressed!

"She's not our landlady Madame Deathstare. She's the woman who owns the flat above the one we own."

so why on earth was she saying she would only speak to your husband! What a cow!

Great news Hope you get it fixed soon

Well Fanjo she said she would only speak to my husband in order to be as rude to me as she possibly could be.

When I asked if I could contact her plumber myself she said "certainly not. If YOU phone him he will definitely not come out".

She is a - well it's hard to find words. She is just gratuitously rude. mean and patronising.

I am astounded she has somehow procured adolescent plumber. I had thought she was not going to contact anyone to 'punish' me for having the temerity to phone her.

It was shower pump in flat upstairs. Girl Plumber has fixed it and says it will take a little time for water to drain, but ceiling will just need redecorating a bit.

So - Netters - do I bother to approach vile woman for redecoration costs? I suppose I can just contact insurance.

Maybe I should text her and sat thank you for sending plumber in hope it will soften her up in case it happens again.

If it's a tiny bit of damage that you can live with until such times as you get around to fixing it or getting onto the insurance, then I'd say don't hassle her for costs.

I think the idea of a text to thank her is good.

I know there is a principal at hand here but at the end of the day, the problem is fixed with (I think) minimal damage and it'd be nice to hopefully indulge her in a bit of faux appreciativeness just incase you need to contact her again for anything.

She sounds like a right battle axe by the way!

for you! I would contact my insurers and get them to arrange for the damage to be repaired and the costs and excess charged to the owner upstairs.

EXACTLY what AKMD said.

Agree. She would be my new nemesis

Well - thank you all for good advice and sympathy. She could easily be a new nemesis for me Chickens.

DH very pleased with me that I made her get a plumber. He says I did good and I had freaked her into responding. Think he is particularly pleased he didn't have to speak to her again.

Whereabouts in London are you? If it's anywhere near me, I want girl plumber's number!

I am in North London BotBot but hideous ogre upstairs wouldn't allow me to have the plumber's contact details.

I did like girl plumber (and not just relief at being rescued).

Last time we had male plumber he said "Mind if I use your loo luv?" and then proceeded to stay in there for an absolute age and then came out saying "Sorry about that luv, better out than in".

Girl plumber much nicer IMO!

Your insurers can seek the money back from her insurers - as she has let the drip go on and therefore you can prove she has been negligent. You should also note that if this prolonged leak has caused any structural weekness then she should be liable. If the drip had been repaired sooner then damage would have been minimal.

Do you have share of freehold or are you leaseholders and there is a different freeholder. If so, you should write to them as well.

We all share the freehold daytoday.

Will insurers be able to trace her if we don't have an address for her?

Im i being a complete thicko?? Why did she sent a 12 year old?

Plumber not really 12 (I think!) only surprisingly young looking.

oh

yes your insurers should be able to trace her - I presume you all share Buildings Insurance - her contact details should be noted with them. Call the buildings insurers up and speak to them. I'm sure they'll be pissed off that she has left leak going on.

Thanks daytoday. That such good advice about insurers. Means I am not helpless in hands of horrible nemesis woman.