Flat upstairs flooded me, twice!

[mjhx]

Hope this is the right place to post. It's my first time posting.

I am ground floor in a council tower block.
Back last year the flat above me, their child set of the sprinkler system that flooded my flat. We was put in emergency accommodation by the council for 1 week with a big dehumidifier and returned to a smelling dirty mouldy flat. The council only did one repair which was the extractor fan as it was knocked off due to the pressure. My flat since then has been very damp and moldy.

Begining of November the children (7&3) and I were making biscuits when water starting pouring and cracks were appearing causing my flat to flood again. This time they had left the oven on with a plate on top and it exploded causing a fire.
The amount of water was much worse than before. The water was up to my ankles and it lasted a lot longer than the last time.
My children were sobbing and very scared.

The council again put us in emergency accommodation and they are carrying out works like filling cracks, re doing the ceiling etc.

I have raised concerns in regards to the mould. It was a damp and mouldy flat before this flood I can't imagine the state of the walls inside. I said this to my housing person and she said the structure is fine they checked. But I don't believe this. The bottom of my bathroom and bedroom walls were cramping. I have bubbling and peeling paint with water marks so I really don't believe this is fine as then this flood happened.
They gave me a list of repairs and they should be done by next week. We are due to move back in on the 19th. A few days before Christmas to a home with a lot of personal damage and loss. Such as my sofa, TV, kids mattresses and mine. My rugs (these are needed as it's cold) I'm a single full time working parent. I do not have content insurance. I then looked in to content insurance and it's sky high as I declared my previous 2 floods.

The tenants upstairs have returned already.
I don't feel safe living under people so neglectful. The council confirmed each time my properly has come off worse. It's very lucky we was awake and I was able to turn off the electric as a fire could have been caused in my home. Twice these tenants have ruined my home. I'm going to have to replace all furniture and clothes and some toys. Along with sentimental pictures that were damaged.

I have emailed the council for a complaint but not heard anything back. I'm due to move back, my daughter (7yr) has made comments about going home. She's not happy. All her things are ruined and last time it was smelly and she doesn't want to go back. I just think it's totally unfair I have to live this way.

Across from the tower block, there are new builds just being offered out to the people in the block. I want one of these. Alone my flooring will cost me a fortune and these new builds come with carpet AND underfloor heating! Am I selfish to want one of these?
Has anyone else experienced anything like this before?

I emailed the council and several other people earlier this week but not had any acknowledgement. What can I do?

I don't want a cold damp mouldy flat. I want

There is nothing you can do. I have just been through the same. 3 leaks from the tenant upstairs. I am in social housing. 2 were the fault of the tenant. 1 was the fault of the HA as they didnt repair the leak. It totally destroyed my flat. This happened in April and the repairs still haven’t been completed. I cant demand the HA move me. I have to be hopeful it doesn’t happen again. It’s one of the downsides of living in a flat.

Oh and take out contents insurance. The premiums maybe high but it would be worth it.

So frustrating.

It's not just a leak though, it was cracks forming across all ceilings and it wasn't trickling it was like a water fall in every room and direction. My boiler tank was overflowing the water was going on to the outside hallway, coming through the light switches.
I just think surly the council have a duty to keep residence safe. Both times it was avoidable.

Even more frustrating they have literally ruined my children's home, things and Christmas! I couldn't care less about my items. And if my daughter wasn't so upset I wouldn't bother. But it's just unfair.

In my experience of working for a local authority, those that shout loudest get listened to and action taken.
Make a huge fuss, contact your MP, make complaints, contact the council leaders, contact the ombudsman and even go to the press if needed. Tell them you need to be compensated for all the damage and try and get moved from there. Make a massive fuss and keep making a fuss. If you just accept what the council say and don’t pursue it, nothing will change. But it is down to you to shout the loudest or you will get ignored.

I agree it is unfair. The stress of dealing my flat over the last 8 months as almost killed me. So I can sympathise with what you are going through. Mine was more than a leak as well. I had a container to catch water in one of the entry points - there was 4. The container was a 50L plastic box. My husband was emptying it 3 times a day.

Thank you.

Someone I know also said the same who has experience with the council. This is why I posted for some advice.
I've emailed all relevant people including my local MP, housing chancellor, building control, environmental health, health and safety etc. I CC'ED all the same email. But just waiting for a response. It was done beginning of last week so hopefully I can hear back before we are due to move.

I know the council are not liable for the damage. They are doing works to the actual flat. Which I appreciate. But surly steps need to be taken to prevent this happening to us again. I'm a honest hard working person. The flat above, they are not.
I'm a secure tenant and I'm aware alot of people have turned down the new housing developments as they are more expensive (I'll add at least 80% of the block do not work) and the new flats are smaller. I will take them. I will be able to pay the additional rent required. Another comment said above said about the tenants above being equally as skint. I'm not skint as such, I live comfortably. But an incident like this where we lost everything is a bit different.

It's honestly been hell dealing with this.
And on returning to the flat next week a few days before Christmas breaks my heart for my children.
I wish I could upload the video. You would be so shocked at he amount of water and pressure the flat was ankle deep within 10 mins.

How much is contents insurance per year

I pay about £130 for building & contents insurance (no previous claims)

@mjhx I live in a HA flat. Im on the top floor of a two storey block DH is disabled and ive been asked before on here why we wouldnt move to a ground floor flat Next time im asked im going to show them your thread. We have contents insurance and always have had. Another assumption on here is that SH tenants dont bother with it. But its important to have it. You have no control over who moves into your block. We currently have an alcoholic underneath us. Before that was the druggie.
Back in the summer i was told there was a leak coming from my bathroom into the flat below. HA stated they were coming on one date Then changed it to another date, then didnt turn up, then rebooked it, They showed up on the hat trick but the tenant dowstairs refused to answer his door, He was in because i heard him flush his toilet AN HOUR AND A HALF the contractors were here talking on their phones in the car park and trying to get him to open his door. They came back up to me and i told them i wasnt willing to keep doing this on constant repeat if he wouldnt open his door The contractors agreed with me The lead one was livid because he was now late for his next appointment and would probably be blamed for that by the next tenant. Fucking ridiculous. So much for the MN myth that they are allowed to break in.