House Advice leak

[Flakes]

Hi all as some of you may know i recently bought a 3 bed flat, unfortunately i found out the other day that i had a leak while a big thunderstorm hit above, the leak seems to originate around next doors chimney, the water appears to be comming down the chimney breast through my roof then down through the cieling in my back bedroom

I have rang my building insurance and asked them to come take a look, unfortunately they couldnt come out till tuesday, with rain forecast for the next few days i wondered if anyone has any suggestions for anything i could do to help prevent the water leaking through. I havnt spoken to next door yet, not quite sure if i should untill its been looked at properly and determined where the leak is actually originating also not sure how to 'go about' telling someone they have a leaky chimney.

thanks,

Flakes

[nephilim]

Show the neighbours the damage, explain it is not their fault but perhaps you can work together to prevent an insurance claim going against the neighbour?

[teejay]

I havnt spoken to next door yet, not quite sure if i should untill its been looked at properly and determined where the leak is actually originating also not sure how to 'go about' telling someone they have a leaky chimney.

You go round, knock on their door, when they answer you grab them by the throat and start screaming abuse at them and tell them if they don't get it fixed pronto you'll be round to stick their chimney where the sun don't shine.

Just an idea, you might think of a better way of handling it, I can't think of one though....

[MK-2]

not sure if this is accurate, but wouldn't you attempting to repair it before the insurers look mean they could claim you have made the problem worse?
sort of like you trying to bash out dents after a crash before the insurers see it.
i know its tough, but perhaps just clearing the area it might affect until tuesday so they can see the extent of the damage, rather than patching it up and they cannot see how bad it is?

[creese]

You will most likely find that it is your responsibility to minimise any further damage. You wouldn't leave a burst pipe until the insurance company had time to come out. Take photos and get necessary reports from builders. Or use plastic sheets or tarpaulins to protect the leaking area from the storms.

[jinnantonnixx]

As creese said.

I had a bit of ceiling collapse from a leak; the problem with a water leak is that is can take unusual paths and the source of the leak may not be where you think it is.

If you think it could be from the chimney, it's likely to be a crack in the lead flashing (all it takes is a pin hole). I made a repair using a paint-on treatment, it's still working several years later.

[MK-2]

You will most likely find that it is your responsibility to minimise any further damage. You wouldn't leave a burst pipe until the insurance company had time to come out. Take photos and get necessary reports from builders. Or use plastic sheets or tarpaulins to protect the leaking area from the storms.

i didn't mean just to leave it, but with the leak perhaps originating from someone elses house, there is very little you can do to minimise damage without involving them

[creese]

i didn't mean just to leave it, but with the leak perhaps originating from someone elses house, there is very little you can do to minimise damage without involving them

In that case it is next doors responsibility to minimise, under their insurance. Either way action, not inaction.

I had a washing machine hose break. It was flooding 3 flats below me. I had to try to brush of the stupid woman 2 floors below as I was stopping the water and mopping up as much as I could, as fast as I could. She seemed to think it was more important to 'discuss' the leak than stop it and minimise damage.

[X-13]

She seemed to think it was more important to 'discuss' the leak than stop it and minimise damage.

She doesn't work in management does she? [/joke]

[creese]

She doesn't work in management does she? [/joke]

Work? I wouldn't have used language like that in front of her.

My manager did spring to mind after I wrote it.
1. Impersonate a Decapitated Hen.
2. Do something rash...
3. Wait for someone calm to do the right thing.

[X-13]

1. Impersonate a Decapitated Hen.
2. Do something rash...
3. Wait for someone calm to do the right thing.

You missed a few steps.

1.1 Have various meetings discussing optional responces.
1.2 Bring in an expensive expert to give advice.
1.3 Ignore the advice given.

[jinnantonnixx]

I like this maxim:

<person> will always do the right thing.
BUt only after they've tried everything else.

[captaincharisma]

Do a sun dance?

[Flakes]

lol. anyway i forgot to take some pictures so will get some tonight, will also talk to the neighbor, im hoping its just something small, however am a bit worried as this flat had been reposed(i bought it off the bank) and therefore had stood empty for awhile, hoping theres no other damage from the water.

[creese]

lol. anyway i forgot to take some pictures so will get some tonight, will also talk to the neighbor, im hoping its just something small, however am a bit worried as this flat had been reposed(i bought it off the bank) and therefore had stood empty for awhile, hoping theres no other damage from the water.

Get Sarah Beeny to look it over. http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/help-my-house-is-falling-down/

Seriously though, I hope it's nothing too serious.