Tenants band together to cut off water supply to upstairs neighbors after they neglect to fix their leak: 'It wasn't long until we heard the renters complain'

These tenants might have gone a step too far, but the upstairs neighbors needed a wake-up call!

Imagine finding out that a seemingly unstoppable ceiling leak in your building had everything to do with your upstairs neighbors' inability to get it fixed. No one wants to assume that the people above you are to blame. It could have been the age of the building or an issue with the pipes. 

However, it turns out that in this instance, there was not much that building management could do to rectify the situation because the renters occupying that apartment refused to participate in solving the problem.

That's when this author, along with the support of other tenants and homeowners in the residence, decided to take a stand and show them what water inconveniences are really like.

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  • A pile of debris on an apartment floor after a ceiling broke open due to damage from a leak.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A pile of debris on an apartment floor after a ceiling broke open due to damage from a leak.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Revenge on negligent neighbor who wouldn't fix his leaks

    I live in a flat, a 3rd floor. For some months we've been having to deal with a water leak from a pipe belonging to our neighbor from upstairs, and not just us, since the leak was also affecting the walls from lower floors, turning them black and all.
    via Slanel2
  • Our upstairs neighbors doesn't reside on the flat, they used it to speculate, so they are renting it to some people who don't seem to be aware of the leak.
    via Slanel2

  • The harsh reality of having a leak in your ceiling is that you really cannot rest until the problem is fixed. Sure, you might put a bucket on the floor, but that doesn't suddenly make the situation livable. When I dealt with an experience like this, it took months for restlessness until the problem was fully resolved. 

    Essentially, my ceiling leaked every time it rained. Thankfully, it wasn't any individual person's fault, but I still had major roadblocks trying to get building management to step in and do their jobs. It took persistence and an unapologetic willingness to become a nuisance in order to get these guys to step up and take me seriously. 

    Hats off to this group of tenants for knowing that there is strength in numbers! If I had collaborated with other folks in my building, perhaps the leak could have been fixed much sooner!

  • We talked to these neighbors so that they would contact their insurance and ask for a specialist so that he would evaluate and write a report about what was going on.
    via Slanel2
  • The one this couple sent said it was actually an issue the community had to attone for.
    via Slanel2
  • The mess started when the community sent another specialist that said it. was actually the responsibility of the owner of the flat, this pair of speculators.
    via Slanel2
  • We also called in a plumber who corroborated this last version, in fact we could all see that the leak was comming from the toilet of our upstairs neighbor who, despite being present, still chose to be in denial and sent the same specialist that he called the first time so that he could once again say it was the responsibility of the community to pay for the repairs.
    via Slanel2
  • We tried talking sense into him, and it did not work. So we took a rather radical step.
    via Slanel2

  • The logic behind cutting off the water supply to the upstairs neighbors' place was simple. If they were not willing to show empathy when there was water damage to everyone else's apartment walls, then they don't deserve a steady supply of water at all. 

    Sure, this might have been a bit harsh. It also might not have been legal according to several members of this online community. Still, however, it seemed to be the only path to getting these neighbors to respond. It might have been through a show of force, but once these fools resurfaced, they had no choice but to explain why they hadn't extended any empathy to the other tenants' water damage that they caused.

  • Two weeks ago, we went to a neighbor meeting, which we knew these negligent neighbors wouldn't attend since they don't care about the issues of our building as long as their flat gives them money.
    via Slanel2
  • In the meeting, we alongiside the neighbor of the 2nd floor suggested we should cut the water supply for the 4th-floor flat so that the leaks would stop harming our properties until it was fixed.
    via Slanel2
  • The approval was unanimous. So, once the meeting ended, the watter for the flat with the leaks was cut.
    via Slanel2
  • The plan was finally set in motion. It wasn't long until we heard the renters complain.
    via Slanel2
  • An upset tenant screams while covering his ears.
    via Usman Yousaf

    An upset tenant screams while covering his ears.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • They came to us seeking to know what was going on, and we did tell them about the leak and that their landlords were evading the responsibility, and that according to law all complaints should be directed to them.
    via Slanel2
  • The renters were very understanding and acknowledget the situation well, then proceded to talk to their landlord and threaten him with a sue.
    via Slanel2
  • Of course, the landlord could have also sued the community, but we all knew if they did that, the process would not only be slow, but would also reveal their negligence.
    via Slanel2
  • So they were forced to now send another specialist that supported the claims made from the community and us, and filled in a report saying that the responsibility was solely from the owner of the flat with the leaks.
    via Slanel2
  • Of course, we restored the water supply as soon as the renters acknowledged the situation, they just got caught in the cross-fire and had no fault.
    via Slanel2
  • And also, our upstairs neighbors have blocked us on their phones as well.
    via Slanel2
  • Practical_Wind_1917 It is time to get your insurance involved and lawyers involved, If itis coming from the toilet in their owned space. They are responsible for it and the damages it caused Call up your insurance company and ask them from recommendations and getting this fixed. They will gladly go after the cause of the issue You should not be living and dealing with an issue like that. Specially from a toilet
    via Slanel2

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Tags

landlord water homeowner tenant neighborhood-drama petty revenge apartment living Bad Neighbor
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