Water leaking into neighbour’s house - help!

[JenandFlo]

Downstairs neighbours (we’re 2 maisonettes) had water coming through their ceiling. It is below our bathroom & I had just finished my shower. I went to look and there was a constant drip.

I immediately turned my water off, which stopped the drip, and have a plumber coming out tomorrow. But my bathroom is completely tiled with no obvious access to pipes so looks like I will have to smash my bathroom . I will also have to sort out damage to neighbour’s property, who understandably is upset.

We’ve had a big wage drop because of Covid and I’m panicking. Does anyone have any experience of this? Were they able to make an insurance claim for damage to neighbouring property and to restore bathroom?

Would be so grateful for any advice.

Although not neighbour, our en suite leaked into our living room. Insurance wouldn't cover us for tracing the source of the leak, but did cover all damage (some was buildings, some was contents, we had to cover both excesses, £600, but the cost of fixing everything and redecorating was much more, so still worth the claim. The plumbers said it would be easier to source the leak from the ceiling below in our case, but it may be more straightforward if yours seems to come from the shower, perhaps just needs resealing or regrouting?

Look at your insurance docs tonight and give them a call in the morning to find out what the deal is.

We were able to claim off the freeholders buildings insurance policy (which obviously as leaseholders we contribute to) because as leasholders we only hold contents insurance.

We had a similar issue, but it was a burst pipe. The freeholder is made a claim on the building insurance. We also made a claim on our contents insurance for some of their belongings that were damaged.