There you are, lounging at home when you hear it. That slow drip coming from a suspicious spot on your ceiling – a water leak from the upstairs condo. Or maybe it’s not a slow drip. Maybe it’s a full-fledged flood. In either case, panic ensues and now you’re faced with two obstacles: dealing with the water damage and talking to your upstairs neighbor.
Experiencing a leak that resulted from your neighbor always raises the question of who is liable. Let’s unpack the complexities of it.
Table of Contents
What Should I Do if I Have Water Damage From the Condo Above?
Before jumping into the following steps, you should contact your property manager or HOA. They can provide you with a copy of the agreement you signed upon moving in. Familiarize yourself with the regulations regarding liability, repairs, and payment responsibilities.
The Steps
1. Document the Damage
It’s always smart to document everything. Comprise a collection or file of detailed photos and videos of the damage. The more evidence you can gather, the better.
2. Contact Your Upstairs Neighbor
Now to address the elephant in the room: your neighbor. They may or may not know about the water damage emanating from their unit. Go upstairs, knock on their door, and explain to them what happened. Anything from a burst pipe to an overflowing bathtub could have occurred.
3. Contact the Property Manager
Once the upstairs neighbor has been informed of the water damage, it’s time to loop in your property manager. If you don’t have a property manager, contact your building’s management team. Liability will likely fall on them to repair the damages.
4. Call CTR
f you signed an agreement where you, the condo owner, are responsible for any damages, then it’s up to you to resolve them. Contact Cleanup & Total Restoration and let us take care of your insurance claim. Make sure you do this in unison with your neighbor.
5. Begin Cleanup
Water can contain all sorts of contaminants. Even clean water can turn into gray water if it’s not dealt with immediately. Contact Cleanup & Total Restoration as soon as possible to begin the restoration process. We use powerful drying equipment to ensure every corner of your unit is thoroughly cleaned and dried.
Who Is Responsible for Upstairs Condo Water Damage?
Who Is Responsible for Upstairs Condo Water Damage?In most cases, liability will not fall on you. Liability will typically fall on the upstairs neighbor since that’s where the leak or flood originated. That being said, condominium management companies and property managers may be held responsible to fix the damages.
Will I Be Liable for Any of the Damage?
It depends on where the leak started. If the leak started in your upstairs neighbor’s condo, you won’t be held liable. Sometimes, it may be the management company’s fault for not providing adequate maintenance services.
Read More: Apartment Ceiling Leak Causes & What To Do
Common Causes of Water Damage From an Upstairs Condo
Now that you know what to do in the event of a water leak from an upstairs condo, let’s take a look at a few common causes of upstairs water damage. Water damage from an upstairs unit can spring from:
- Malfunctioning Appliances
- Overflowing Bathtubs & Showers
- Burst or Broken Pipes
- Clogged Toilets
Upstairs Water Damage? Let CTR Handle the Hard Stuff
Water damage of any kind is devastating, for you and your upstairs neighbor. Get emergency water damage services fast when you call Cleanup & Total Restoration. We provide emergency services for apartment and condo buildings across the Southern Idaho area. Get help fast by contacting us today.
