Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Urine coming through my ceiling

35 replies

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 21:26

I'm at my wits end. I have a housing association flat, owned and rented out to me by Clarion Housing. The block of flats has two floors. I live on the lower floor.

The flat above me was occupied by a man, who I think was probably an alcoholic.
Apparently he was peeing into bottles and standing them on the floor. They then fell over and leaked through into my flat.

I was unaware of this situation until the emergency services forced entry into his flat and took him to either a care home or hospital. He died a few weeks later. The flat is now empty.

The small yellow mark on my ceiling in the bathroom got bigger and bigger. Then I got a new patch on the hallway ceiling. I reported the problems to Clarion sometime in November 2022. They booked an appointment to come and look at /fix the ceiling.

Unfortunately the appointment was booked for the day after we had quite a bit of snow(12th December) so understandably they didn't turn up.

Meanwhile another appointment was booked for 9th January, at which time they said they would replaster the ceiling. The urine was now collecting in my bathroom basin and pooling on the floor on some days. I suspect that the rain is flushing the urine through as I have a leak nearby anyway.

Trying to contact them ( you are number 90 in the queue! ) is very difficult, as is trying to get them to understand that they need to go into the flat above me to sort out the leak before repairing the damage. I've wasted hours on Internet chat trying to get them to help me.

I've now reported this to the environmental health people, have contacted my MP and made a formal complaint to Clarion. This is a health risk! I can't get them to get their finger out and sort it out! I'm beyond frustrated and furious.

This in the UK in 2023 not the 1800s or a third world country!

OP posts:
Snarkysnarksnark · 05/01/2023 21:28

Oh god, that is so rank!
I was going to environmental health but I see you have already contacted them

local paper? Although you would have to be pictured, but it might get you results.

I hope you get it sorted soon.

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 21:30

Thanks sparky, local paper is a good idea. To be honest I've posted on here hoping the daily mail will pick it up

OP posts:
RandomMess · 05/01/2023 21:30

You need to use the term "raw sewage" it's a health hazard, environmental health?

Your insurance company - or theirs someone must have buildings insurance?

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 21:41

RandomMess, I've contacted environmental health. Raw sewage is a good phrase.
I've just emailed my local paper.

I hadn't thought of the insurance aspect. The main thing I want doing is to get the flat above checked, cleaned and leak stopped. Then for them to replaster the ceiling. Yes there is buildings insurance Included in our rent

OP posts:
FinishYourBrekkie · 05/01/2023 21:46

I work for a public service and have had dealings with many housing associations - Clarion are by far the worst of the lot!

RandomMess · 05/01/2023 21:48

Do you know the insurers are? Contact them direct?

JustDrama · 05/01/2023 21:53

Clean dried water over time also shows as an yellow/brown mark. Our boiler leaked and our kitchen ceiling was a mess. I wouldn't necessarily think it was raw sewage.

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 21:56

Just drama, I didn't know that. But given the circumstances I would think it is urine

OP posts:
frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 21:57

Random mess what can the insurers do? Surely it's clarion responsibility to fix this?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 05/01/2023 21:58

The insurers may have tradesmen they can bring direct.

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 22:04

Random mess, oh OK that's useful to know. Thanks

OP posts:
SuperfastJellyfish · 05/01/2023 22:17

I work in social housing and the best way to get people's attention is to email the chief exec directly and say you are going to the papers and talking to your MP.

Just done a quick google search and CEO email seems to be: [email protected]

Where I work, everyone has kittens if a complaint goes straight to the chief exec.

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 22:39

SuperfastJellyfìsh, thanks so much.

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 05/01/2023 22:43

What @SuperfastJellyfish said.
Also say in your email that you will be contacting the Housing Ombudsman service if not resolved in (insert reasonable timescale) .

hannahcolobus · 05/01/2023 22:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

frustratedashell · 05/01/2023 23:20

Thanks everyone, I've now emailed Clare Miller. I'll update you all when I've got some news

OP posts:
frustratedashell · 06/01/2023 16:17

Quick update. Got a reply to my email, saying bugger all. " Blah blah a customer solutions co-ordinator will be in touch to discuss your concerns with you further"

Aaarrrgggghh

OP posts:
rrrrrreatt · 07/01/2023 11:38

This is going to sound grim but can you smell stale urine?

I had someone’s toilet pipe leak through my bedroom ceiling in my old flat and believe me, the smell is unmistakeable after a few days. It got into the carpet and I tried every possible product to clean it out but nothing worked. It smelt like a public convenience in a busy park!!

frustratedashell · 07/01/2023 14:01

No I can't smell anything. Perhaps it wasn't urine?! The leak appears to have stopped now, I was due to have my ceiling replastered on Monday but I cancelled it as it was still leaking a bit.
Now wondering if I shouldn't have cancelled. Sick of it all, it's very stressful

OP posts:
DogDaysNeverEnd · 07/01/2023 14:10

Old wee stinks (of ammonia, very distinctive), so the good news is that if you don't smell anything it's probably a water leak. Obviously still needs fixing though.

rrrrrreatt · 07/01/2023 19:54

frustratedashell · 07/01/2023 14:01

No I can't smell anything. Perhaps it wasn't urine?! The leak appears to have stopped now, I was due to have my ceiling replastered on Monday but I cancelled it as it was still leaking a bit.
Now wondering if I shouldn't have cancelled. Sick of it all, it's very stressful

It sounds like a water leak then, the smell was so bad after a week the landlord had to professionally clean my carpet and the builder put a special cleaner on the ceiling while he was up there. Water or wee, it’s very stressful like you say and definitely needs fixing!

Adarajames · 08/01/2023 19:05

I’d been fighting to my thankfully now ex landlord,L&Q to fix a leak / gradually collapsing ceiling for 3+years when I finally gave up and moved out middle of last year. Not urine, but was there used shower water coming through into my kitchen, and smelt like it too! I basically didn’t go home for most of the last 3 years, and then moved. Private rented now, very scary to have given up a social housing tenancy, but just couldn’t do it any more!

frustratedashell · 08/01/2023 19:11

Adarajames that sounds horrendous! I'm hoping to get them to come out and replaster both patches asap. But they are so slow!

OP posts:
category12 · 08/01/2023 19:15

Maybe get in touch with Kwajo-Social Housing on Twitter?

frustratedashell · 08/01/2023 19:17

Category12 who are they?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread