Condensation or leak?

[Anna Trela]

I live in a shared ownership property and had no issues in a “protected” period of a year for defects. It is 18th month of my living here. I was away on holidays and now found out this on my return (in a hallway next to storage area). Do you think it is a leak? Or just condensation? What can I do myself? How much plumber costs for such issues?

 

[Aire]

Certainly looks like damp traveling up the wall. Can be caused by a leaking pipe in the floor. Or maybe something on the other side of the wall leaking. Have you noticed pressure on your boiler dropping at all? Or if your onba water meter, if everything is turned off, can you see the dial on the meter spinning?

 

[Anna Trela]

Pressure on the boiler is 1.4 bar, within recommended limits. On the other side of the wall no dump but bathroom is adjacent (?) so maybe some pipes from the bathroom.
Reported it but the housing association will say it is beyond snagging period I am sure. I just wonder if I can leave it for a week. Will observe if dump not going up for next 2 days.

 

[Anna Trela]

Just had a share from a neighbour : “This looks like when I had a flood under the kitchen flooring. Turned out one of the central pipes had a hole in and was sweeping into the insulation and then under my flooring and upmthe walls”. Oh no

 

[Aire]

It is a sign of water seeping up the wall, do you have any pipes burried in the floor or walls? When you say house share, do you mean help to buy and was it a brand new house when you bought it?

 

[Burger]

Any pipes in what looks like boxing in? If there’s pipes in there then if you’re capable remove and inspect?

 

[Anna Trela]

I meant shared ownership, new build. There are pipes buried in the floor I think. Wish me luck!

 

[Aire]

I meant shared ownership, new build. There are pipes buried in the floor I think. Wish me luck!

Good luck, if a pipe in the floor is leaking, you should have an valid argument, as no pipe that is installed correctly will leak after 18 months.

 

[Chuck]

I live in a shared ownership property and had no issues in a “protected” period of a year for defects.

A year is a reasonable time to report visible snags but this is in a different category, i.e. a hidden defect that has only just made itself apparent after 18 months. I doubt you'll have a problem with getting the housing association to sort it out providing you report it to them without delay. Seek advice from the Citizen's Advice Bureau in the unlikely event that the HA doesn't play nice.

 

[Anna Trela]

A year is a reasonable time to report visible snags but this is in a different category, i.e. a hidden defect that has only just made itself apparent after 18 months. I doubt you'll have a problem with getting the housing association to sort it out providing you report it to them without delay. Seek advice from the Citizen's Advice Bureau in the unlikely event that the HA doesn't play nice.

Thank you for your response. Of course they do not play nice - just sent me a standard response that as it it within my flat I am responsible to investigate first. And they will only reimburse the cost if the leak is from the communal area. I will need to go to CAB.... poor quality materials and dubious quality of work, overpriced flat, renting 70% but responsible for all defects within.

 

[Anna Trela]

Now there is also a leak in the storage! I was away = not using water, so it must be communal pipe. What do you think?
I go round in circles with HA, what a nightmare.
Any idea how much plumbers assessment for such stuff is? How long it takes? 2h? Before I get anywhere with HA the leak can get worse so I cannot afford waiting

 

[Brambles]

Anna, where are you based?

If it is North London I may be able to get someone to draft a report for you to send the HA


[email protected]

 

[Burger]

Now there is also a leak in the storage! I was away = not using water, so it must be communal pipe. What do you think?

Anna if it’s a water feed, unless you turned off your water whilst you were away, then it would continue to leak.

 

[Anna Trela]

Anna, where are you based?

If it is North London I may be able to get someone to draft a report for you to send the HA


[email protected]

I am in South East London