Fill the cracks or a new curtain will do it?

[Mary B.]

Hey BP,

Here's the situation: Tenant is getting flack from landlord about water leaking down on the other tenant from the bathroom. Shower curtains are in place & being used and have even had an extension to the curtain added, yet water still goes to the unit downstairs. Landlord thinks the leak comes from the area by the radiator that isn't covered with the ceramic tile like the rest of the bathroom is [see pic]. Yet landlord won't add the tile and complains that they'll have to fix the ceiling downstairs. Landlord blames the shower curtains not the missing tile. Tenant thinks the water gets away via mopping and that the tiles added would be the fix. The water is going to get down in the cracks and downstairs right where the tile is missing(they both agree there). The unfinished tile area only has one thin ply nailed to the wall.

My opinion: Preventative measures are warranted as far as the potential for mold. Besides, fixing the ceiling downstairs and NOT completing the tile on the wall in the top unit will only cost more down the line. There's only a matter of time before water is going to escape through the cracks left by the drywall (or sheetrock not sure as I'm no contractor) in the top unit redamaging the ceiling on the downstairs unit but if those missing tiles were added with the sealant filling the cracks, such as the rest of the bathroom, it would fix the problem.

Chime in if you will. Insurance agents, question: Does the landlord's insurance policy generally require the fix in both apartments units, in this situation, or just the downstairs? Property is located in PA. Question for Contractors: This may be a handyman's job but what's the cost on adding a few more ceramic tiles in comparison to repairing the ceiling(every couple of years maybe)? Thank you for your responses.

Kudos,

Mary