Water leaking from flat upstairs

[Michelle1970]

Hi. I’m a owner of a pub. I own the building but someone has bought the flat upstairs. Their water has been leaking on us for weeks. I’ve tried everything to get a response from him as I can’t open my pub or takeaway as the water is leaking down the walls and straight through to my cellar. What steps should I take first. I own the building but he owns the flat inside the building above my pub.

[ostell]

I presume that you have tried to contact the owner and told him of the damage. If not possible then suggest you turn off the stopcock for the property to save further damage and loss to yourself.

[Michelle1970]

I’m the owner of the entire building but he bought the flat. Can I legally turn the water off to his premises? There’s a stock cock on the street and he keeps turning it back on every time we turn it off but the water runs through our cellar before it goes up to his premises. Can we put a stop cock on the pipe in our cellar to stop it from more damage and can he then legally make us pay for turning off his water? Thanks so much for your help.

[Michelle1970]

Also the flat is empty. Nobody is living there. He got the mortgage under fraudulent means. He pretended the pub was a barbers so he could get the mortgage. It’s disposed to be a personal mortgage but he’s trying to rent it in a buy to let property. He didn’t buy the property from me. I bought the building and he bought the flat at the same time from the previous owner who split it up for more profit. I feel stuck. I can’t open my pub or takeaway. I’m at my wits end.

[Michelle1970]

I just want to know if I have the legal right to shut the water off ?