Am I responsible for downstair electric safety check after water leakage?

Landlord Discussion
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Dear follow LL,

Just before Xmas my flat had water leakage to downstairs. My tenant didn’t inform me, downstairs’ estate agent emailed me and helped me to find plumber to get it fixed. Now almost two weeks later, the estate agent ask me to get a contractor in to check downstair’s electric safety due to the leakage. Am I liable for it?
If I the electrician I get in suggested something downstair doesn’t agree, or downstair’s estate agent doesn’t agree or downstairs’ landlord doesn’t agree, do I have to let their contractor (may not even qualified to do the job? and charge me whatever they like) Also with those electric checks, previous I came cross they came up with some over complicated recommendations (ie. make the cable behind the ceiling waterproof)

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you cannot make a cable waterproof including the household fitting ,from water from above.I have had water from the roof leak onto a fitting ,Just not switched that light on and in a few hours ,all ok and no fuse trip. Check they have a current elec cert and are not just using you to pay for one for the whole flat. You will have to pay any reasonable costs

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Thank you, Colin

The estate agent’s contractor was a handy man last time, he changed the base of their ceiling light, which I suspect that wasn’t necessary. But the “electrician” I got last time suggested things like change the fuse box/make the cable waterproof, which luckily downstairs’ tenants were sensible enough to refuse.

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changing the fuse box? a new one may trip quicker ,but that is all, Upstairs is where the problem is ,as you no doubt realise

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I am a gas engineer who got called out to a separate gas leak and noticed water around the consumer unit ! So I whip the cover off and the bottom was filled with water so I cleaned it up and never heard something for 2 weeks when the main fuse went bang ! And not one of the rcbo’s tripped .
Get it checked out

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that is very dangerous the lastest metal clad units are so sensitive a light bulb popping will trip them

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According to this C v B - Successful appeal of escape of water claim | Bevan Brittan LLP (picked up from a discussion on Facebook here Landlords UK 🇬🇧 | I'm shocked and wondered if this is common knowledge) you are not responsible for damage caused to another property by a water leak from your property, unless you have been negligent.

So, you are not responsible for their costs, they have to claim on their own insurance.

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Thank you Cath, if that’s the case. I’m off the hook then.

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Thank you so much Cath, just looked up citizen advice. You are right.
The water leakage is not due to neglect. I’m not responsible for downstair flat’s repair.

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