We use a managing agent for some properties, one of which has had ceiling damage from a property above that is owner-occupied. The agent has tried to contact the owner but without success. As a result, I see no alternative than for us to cover the cost for the repair.
The repairs are not enormously expensive and so in this case, it’s not that important. But I’m posting this message because it could have been a lot worse and am interested in what others would do in our situation. Should we have insisted the agent take further responsibility? Should they or we take the upstairs owner to the small claims court?
If it is due to a leak from upstairs this would normally be dealt with via your insurance, it’s not the upstairs owner liability unless they were negligent.
Many thanks for the prompt responses and yes, it is covered by the management company’s insurance. I can’t think why this - or our own landlord’s insurance - hadn’t occurred to me.
I would think it the repairs aren’t too costly it might not be worth claiming on the insurance as this will bump up the premium next year …depends how many in the block i guess. I had the same issue and upstairs’ owner was having none of it… although his pipes leaked I don’t think he would be liable.