Overflowing pipe

[lottin]

Hi,
There is a overflowing pipe a couple of flats above my flat and the water is running down the outside wall of the flat below it and my own, my flat being the ground floor one. I can't seem to be able to contact the resident of this flat, I had heard that he had a fall and was taken away by social services. This being the case, leaves me even more worried about this water issue and the potential damage it will cause. I think all the flats are privately owned. Is there a way to gain access to stop the water, and who is liable should there be any damage caused by the overflowing pipe?
I have spoken to Edinburgh City Council and they refer me to Scottish Water and vice versa!
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

[wales01man]

Re: Overflowing pipe

If there is an external stop cock that shuts the water to supply to each flat .maybe the water can be turned of from outside the flat in question.

[lottin]

Re: Overflowing pipe

No I'm afraid there isn't.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Overflowing pipe

who is liable should there be any damage caused by the overflowing pipe?

God would be responsible, firstly for having created the water in the first place and secondly because it will puzzle you to prove that any damage was caused by a streaming overflow rather than by rain against the building.

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

Hi,
i have the exact situation as Andy, I live on the second floor and on the fourth flore above, a pipe is disconnected; we can even hear the water flowing from it. The walls are rotting - this is in the bathroom behind the toilet. The 4th floor tenant claims he's all fine, but the flats below suffer.

In addition - I rent privately and when I moved I did not know this, it was hidden. The day before I moved there was a leak in my flat which took me months of argument and withdrawal of half the rent per month to get addressed.
however the rotting wall was not addressed despite my request, claiming it takes a little longer to settle with the insurance provider of the house.
I was promised it'll be done within my first year of tenancy which ended thus February.

During winter the condensation was so bad that clothes were not drying but rotting despite the heating and even despite a dehumidifier which had to be turned on nonstop (my landlady bought a cheap one in January upon my request, but refused to comment on how the wall will be addressed.)
my electricity usage has been sky-high because of this costing me hundreds.
I also noted to the landlady I believe it's damaging my health; since November I gave flu/allergies/constant sinusitis and its getting worse but never better. I never had allergies before except food allergies but here during months I developed such that I cannot breathe well in the house at times.

seeing my latest electricity bill I asked the landlady to review the rent, since I know that the amount I pay is valid for refurbished flats in the same house.

her reaction is that she tries to this me out making it up that I am unable/unwilling to pay my rent and she still refuses to comment on the missed repairs. She does this knowing I don't have the money to pay deposit elsewhere and move safely while I am dealing with debt repayment, she knows it all (see my HSBC thread) - she knows what she does risks my sec clearance and my job still she claims its for my benefit... And now that she tries to throw me out she wants to come in with contractors but only after she advised that I have to move since I "can't afford the rent" that she decided she'll visit with contractors to check on the flat that she didn't care about otherwise.
I have previous emails and messages and continuous photos about the wall and the damage.

Question, how is it possible to prove that the rotting wall is health damaging? What is such a proof worth? What can I do to my defense against being thrown out?
IMO she makes me pay rent as if the flat was newly refurbished and then makes me responsible for the damages financially. She claims she needs my full rent amount for her mortgage and that's why she can't change, but refuses to comment on refurbishment or damages or how the rotting wall can risk my health.

thanks a lot for any help you can provide.

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

Hi,
i have the exact situation as Andy, I live on the second floor and on the fourth floor above, a pipe is disconnected; we can even hear the water flowing from it. The walls are rotting - this is in the bathroom behind the toilet. The 4th floor tenant claims he's all fine, but the flats below suffer.

In addition - I rent privately and when I moved I did not know this, it was hidden. The day before I moved there was a leak in my flat which took me months of argument and withdrawal of half the rent per month to get addressed.
however the rotting wall was not addressed despite my request, claiming it takes a little longer to settle with the insurance provider of the house.
I was promised it'll be done within my first year of tenancy which ended thus February.

During winter the condensation was so bad that clothes were not drying but rotting despite the heating and even despite a dehumidifier which had to be turned on nonstop (my landlady bought a cheap one in January upon my request, but refused to comment on how the wall will be addressed.)
my electricity usage has been sky-high because of this costing me hundreds.
I also noted to the landlady I believe it's damaging my health; since November I gave flu/allergies/constant sinusitis and its getting worse but never better. I never had allergies before except food allergies but here during months I developed such that I cannot breathe well in the house at times.

seeing my latest electricity bill I asked the landlady to review the rent, since I know that the amount I pay is valid for refurbished flats in the same house.

her reaction is that she tries to this me out making it up that I am unable/unwilling to pay my rent and she still refuses to comment on the missed repairs. She does this knowing I don't have the money to pay deposit elsewhere and move safely while I am dealing with debt repayment, she knows it all (see my HSBC thread) - she knows what she does risks my sec clearance and my job still she claims its for my benefit... And now that she tries to throw me out she wants to come in with contractors but only after she advised that I have to move since I "can't afford the rent" that she decided she'll visit with contractors to check on the flat that she didn't care about otherwise.
I have previous emails and messages and continuous photos about the wall and the damage.

Question, how is it possible to prove that the rotting wall is health damaging? What is such a proof worth? What can I do to my defense against being thrown out?
IMO she makes me pay rent as if the flat was newly refurbished and then makes me responsible for the damages financially. She claims she needs my full rent amount for her mortgage and that's why she can't change, but refuses to comment on refurbishment or damages or how the rotting wall can risk my health.

thanks a lot for any help you can provide.

[charitynjw]

Re: Overflowing pipe

Hi lottin,

I believe that the water authority can issue a waste water notice, then afterwards can take appropriate action.
This normally would be to cut the supply off in the road. (Unless it is a shared service)

[charitynjw]

Re: Overflowing pipe

Hi QueenAnne,

Have you contacted your local district council Environmental Health department?

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

No, what could they do? They are useless re noise complaints...

what are the regulations that are relevant? I'd like to read up and prepare.
I also think landlady will try quickly to cover up - through entering the property when I'm at work though I made clear I don't consent for this exact reason. Since I made clear I'm looking to see how she plans to compensate me she went quiet... Not confirming even what she wanted from me.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Overflowing pipe

I also think landlady will try quickly to cover up - through entering the property when I'm at work though I made clear I don't consent for this exact reason. Since I made clear I'm looking to see how she plans to compensate me she went quiet... Not confirming even what she wanted from me.

What has the harpy done with your deposit?

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

http://england.shelter.org.uk/__data...e_Nov_2012.pdfOhhhh

All clear, I know what to do and where the council comes in... Thanks for the help!
so basically I need one of their officers to inspect the rotting wall and my kitchen pipes that have something like mud coming up in the sink.
and the compensation to aim for is 1) inconvenience 2) health (I have medical records, tho need notice from GP once more) and the refund of the horrendous electricity bill by the land lady's dehumidifier which was mandatory to run otherwise I couldn't breathe and clothes didn't dry but rot wet for days and condensation was constant with black mold on the window glasses.
if she was pointed out the thing in feb 2012, refused to repair in nay 2012 and since then made no attempt to address or discuss this issue, how much shall I ask for as compensation?
the only I can measure is electricity, about 4000 kwh.

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

Nothing, cc. She used the deposit protection scheme.
tbh she's not 'evil' per se, just negligent to the bone but she's been friendly until she realised this is an issue that won't go away with being friendly. She's a single mom, she didn't have money probably and try to sweep under the rug instead of addressing the issue.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Overflowing pipe

I'd not usually say this of any single mother but, considering the floozy's obvious attitude problem, it seems apt.

She's a prostitute.

I fixed your post for you. msl:

[CleverClogs]

Re: Overflowing pipe

how much shall I ask for as compensation?
the only I can measure is electricity, about 4000 kwh.

How much do you pay per 1kwh unit?

[QueenAnne]

Re: Overflowing pipe

CC,
14.05p
I haven't had a week without flu/allergy/sinusitis/otitis media recurrent with hearing damage (yes thus happened, I was told its after the recurrent sinusitis) since last November - I suspect it's the mould or something from that wall. I have my papers from the hospital where I went for emergency treatment. Sure my GP could provide one as well.
I could maybe upload some of the pics of that wall.
As I understood my health, the damage (eg costs?) and 'inconveniences' can form a compensation - what inconveniences?
How do I get compensated for having to step into the middle of flowing water that's connected with multiple electric devices to turn off the wash machine that caused the overflow? (Shares the pipes with my kitchen sink - stuff like dirt, black mud or something is filling the pipe so the water doesn't go down but comes up when the wash machine empties itself, washing that dirt into my kitchen sink and kitchen.) happened multiple times by now. (The other main issue with my home...)
thank you