I own a flat which I rent out to tenants. I lived there until last year.
On Monday I had a call to say that the pipe below the bathroom sink had ruptured and caused a leak into the office/shop below. By then my tenants had turned off the water at the mains.
I immediately authorised the management company to send in a team to remedy the damage to the ceiling downstairs, take a water vac etc to dry out the building. Luckily this damage is covered by buildings insurance, so I should only have to pay the 300 excess.
The company downstairs say that the water has caused damage to some of their office equipment, including computers, phones etc.
My understanding is that as the leak was accidental and not caused by negligence (e.g. an overflowing bath) I am not liable to cover damage to their equipment. The CAB website suggests that the company would need to claim on their contents insurance for the damage.
Apparently the company does not have contents insurance and is expecting us to pay. I don't know how much they are claiming for but expect it to be a lot. They have threatened (via the management company) to take legal action.
Is anyone able to advise on whether my understanding is correct and that in these cases the expectation is for the shop to claim on their contents insurance? That being the case, surely the fact that they don't have such insurance isn't my fault and doesn't impact on my liability?
Stupidly, I didn't have landlord insurance. I just didn't realise how important it is, and I am by no means a professional landlord. I have now taken out cover, but obviously it will not cover this incident.
Thank you so much in advance. Very worried!
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Leak from our flat into shop below
8 replies
Gryffindor · 17/07/2014 10:12
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