repairing water damaged ceiling for neighbor (wood floors, tank, installed, bathrooms)

[killingbee]

Hi,

I'm writing this to get some advice from you. (first time to ask a question online and I'm not a good writer )

I installed a bidet in my parent's bathroom on June 23rd.

There was 5 hour water stoppage so I didn't test it and I went out.

On that night, HOA president and the owner of downstairs unit came to my unit and complained about a water leak.

My dad checked the bathroom and saw that there was water around toilet and cracked tiles.

So he checked all hoses and tightened up and made sure that there would be no more leaks and cleaned up the floor. (I think I didn't tighten them up enough )

Next day, I went downstairs(2nd floor) and asked them if there's any damage and they said everything was fine.

and two weeks later(July 9th) I received a letter from HOA stating that the owner of first floor claimed that they were having an issue with this water leak.

So, I went there last night and checked it. There were two or three water bubbles on the ceiling from a few inches from the wall towards the middle where HVOC is. The estimate she gave me was $1700.

I'd like to fix this for them. However, that $1700 is a lot of money for me since it won't be covered by homeowner's insurance or HOA.

My questions are
1) where can I find a contractor who can do this job well?
(I googled for water damage restoration companies and some pluming companies but they told me that they don't this kind of work.)

2) I'd like to trust them and try to help them out but I don't think its going to cost $1700. Is this the right price to fix this ceiling?

Can you help me out?

thank you.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by killingbee

... since it won't be covered by homeowner's insurance ...

What makes you think homeowner's insurance won't cover that?

My toilet tank broke while I was away at work. I came home to a house with wood floors and carpets soaked by water. (When the tank breaks the float valve keeps trying to fill the tank, so the water was leaking for hours.)

My homeowner's insurance did not pay to fix the toilet, but they paid all consequential damages caused by the leak, including repairing the wood floor plus drying out carpets by water damage company.

You should contact your insurance agent.

Also, your homeowner's policy should cover liability.

[killingbee]

thanks.
I'll call my insurance company.
Do I need to hire a general contractor or plumber or water damage restoration specialist?

[Elle Oh Elle]

Originally Posted by killingbee

thanks.
I'll call my insurance company.
Do I need to hire a general contractor or plumber or water damage restoration specialist?

Chances are, they'll pay for the damage (expensive) and go from there. Speak to them first.

[accufitgolf]

In a multi unit condo building, I would want the correction to be a multi step process. 1st a licensed/bonded plumber assures/corrects your plumbing job. 2nd a licensed/bonded Disaster Restoration company to remove all the damaged materials, dry out the area, and certify it dry and damage free. Lastly, a licensed/bonded contractor to rebuild.

You cannot take chances in a multi unit condo building. Not like in your own home, you screw up, you do not damage others, and you pay.

[K. Bhaskaran]

There is water leakage from both the bathrooms of the floor above and the people in the floor below are suffering. Both the occupants are over 80 years old. The owner of the upper floor flat refuses to repair his bathrooms. He maintains he can permit the plumber engaged by the lower floor flat owner to carry out the repairs. Please advice who should the repairs and what the legal rules one can depend on in this regard. Thanks - K.Bhaskaran -, Borivli, Mumbai

[alpha_1976]

Originally Posted by K. Bhaskaran

There is water leakage from both the bathrooms of the floor above and the people in the floor below are suffering. Both the occupants are over 80 years old. The owner of the upper floor flat refuses to repair his bathrooms. He maintains he can permit the plumber engaged by the lower floor flat owner to carry out the repairs. Please advice who should the repairs and what the legal rules one can depend on in this regard. Thanks - K.Bhaskaran -, Borivli, Mumbai

If you are talking about a separate issue then you should start a new thread I guess.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by K. Bhaskaran

There is water leakage from both the bathrooms of the floor above and the people in the floor below are suffering. Both the occupants are over 80 years old. The owner of the upper floor flat refuses to repair his bathrooms. He maintains he can permit the plumber engaged by the lower floor flat owner to carry out the repairs. Please advice who should the repairs and what the legal rules one can depend on in this regard. Thanks - K.Bhaskaran -, Borivli, Mumbai

Apart from starting a new thread - I don't think you're likely to find someone here who knows about the laws in India. I am familiar with legal issues regarding leaks - but I live in Florida in the United States. Robyn

[justengo]

Originally Posted by K. Bhaskaran

There is water leakage from both the bathrooms of the floor above and the people in the floor below are suffering. Both the occupants are over 80 years old. The owner of the upper floor flat refuses to repair his bathrooms. He maintains he can permit the plumber engaged by the lower floor flat owner to carry out the repairs. Please advice who should the repairs and what the legal rules one can depend on in this regard. Thanks - K.Bhaskaran -, Borivli, Mumbai

My neighbour faced an identical problem for more than seven years. He got it fixed by a waterproofing contractor and the problem has been solved now. The repair work was carried out from the lower floor ceiling itself and without bothering the upper floor owner.
As for the pertaining Co-op. Hsg Society bye-laws, the expenses have to be shared by both the parties. Going to the Consumer Redressal Forum could take ages.