Rental Property Investor · Member since 2019 · 4 posts · 0 votes
My condo sits on the second floor. The downstairs neighbor came up to tell my tenant that he has a leak in his bathroom ceiling, which is right underneath my condo's shower. The downstairs neighbor notified his landlord, and they told us that someone will come to take a look at their condo and they would let us know. A few days went by and we didn't hear anything from them, so I reached out to the neighbor to ask what was happening. He said the bubble is there and their landlord has not called a plumber to look at the damage. In the meantime, I had asked my tenant not to use that shower until this is resolved. Fortunately, the condo has two showers.
a plumber will out tomorrow, but I don’t understand how they find the source of the leak, if I can’t authorize for them to cut the dry wall on a condo that’s not mine. shouldn the owner downstairs call a plumber?
My understanding is that my insurance covers from studs into my condo.
The association emailed me today and said this was an owner responsibility for me to call the plumber and coordinate access to the condo downstairs.
Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!
Rental Property Investor · Member since 2018 · 826 posts · 810 votes
2y
@Nubia Silva seems like relatively cheap repairs so I would advise to not make an insurance claim if you intend to expand your rental portfolio. You’ll likely run into carriers that won’t like you making small claims, thus harder to get coverage in future.
What type of floors do you have in your shower - tub, prefab or tiles? The easiest thing to do is have a plumber open the ceiling beneath you to diagnose. Hopefully it’s just issues with your drain piping, which is a quick fix. If you have issues with a tiled shower floor then that’s a different ballgame - but I still wouldn’t make a claim.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
2y
I used to live in a condo and had some wall damage - water was clearly getting in. I told the guy above me about it and he didn't really seem to care (he was a jabroni).
And so I talked to the loser condo board and the one board member said said it's not like we can just make the guy open up his shower floor just because you think he has a leak.
Then the owner next to mine complained about wall damage and yet another owner complained and it turns out the guy above me tiled his shower floor and clearly didn't know what he was doing - water was damaging walls and ceilings.
The botched job was at least a year prior before they urged him to do anything. Well, when they opened up his floor the full extent of the damage was realized. His insurance company paid for my wall and ceiling to be redone. This included a nice new bathroom paint job.
Rental Property Investor · Member since 2018 · 826 posts · 810 votes
2y
@Nubia Silva seems like relatively cheap repairs so I would advise to not make an insurance claim if you intend to expand your rental portfolio. You’ll likely run into carriers that won’t like you making small claims, thus harder to get coverage in future.
What type of floors do you have in your shower - tub, prefab or tiles? The easiest thing to do is have a plumber open the ceiling beneath you to diagnose. Hopefully it’s just issues with your drain piping, which is a quick fix. If you have issues with a tiled shower floor then that’s a different ballgame - but I still wouldn’t make a claim.
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
2y
@Nubia Silva
First thing you need to look at is your condo
Documents and understand what is common area vs unit
For example a plumbing line that is a main that runs through the walls may be considered common area but if water is leaking around the drain in your unit then it could be your issue.
First identify the leak which the condo association should be involved in when it’s unit to unit leak to get it reviewed to check where leak is from.
Remember You have no control over the owner downstairs and I would report it to the association that it’s undetermined on the cause needs to be determined.
Rental Property Investor · Member since 2019 · 4 posts · 0 votes
2y
Thank so much for all the valuable information.
Update: The technician came by today, and it will be necessary to cut a portion of the ceiling to access the pipes in order to pinpoint the origin of the leak. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get in touch with the landlord directly, as they have PM. I plan notify the hoa about the current situation.
I am surprised that the property manager for the condo did not inform the association or try to contact me. I want to get this solve ASAP.