Huge Leak in Property

DEvok on 08/05/2025 - 12:04
Last edited 08/05/2025 - 12:04

I'm currently renting a studio but for last 6 days I have a massage ceiling leak which is directly under my bed, the water has come to the point where ceiling is mushy soft and flexing down ways, couldn't sleep properly or anything as the drips kept on changing locations damaged some belong ing and setting my bed.

I wasted many hours trying to guide water into buckets, maybe 10 litres of water Daily, I have to empty so much it's a nightmare.

I reported to agent and doesn't have any idea and said it will be passed onto strata, the plumber came a few days ago and placed some colour dye and wanted me to report if there's is yellow dye then can know where water is coming from. They also tried to check the other units to see where water is but unsuccessfully as no body was home.

Fast forward plumber called me today and said he will need to cut hole in the roof and and inspect it.

Does agent/landlord has to offer me temporary housing for me to stay as it is uninhabitable? Agent just ask me do I have place to stay I said maybe 2 nights but not for one freaking week! Since she doesn't know how long this will take.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • 87percent on 08/05/2025 - 12:09
    +17

    yeah i would be looking for a new place to live.. mould will certainly be a factor going forward

    • Dr Phil on 09/05/2025 - 08:48
      -1

      But the massage ceiling????????????

  • jv on 08/05/2025 - 12:19
    -2

    Huge Leak in Property

    Next time, use the toilet…

  • jugsy on 08/05/2025 - 12:28
    +6

    If the roof is caving in on your head, that's not a general maintenance issue, that's a massive safety risk. The SES may be able to assist making it temporarily safe, then start beating down the door of your agent

    • jv on 08/05/2025 - 12:53

      a massive safety risk.

      It might just be possums.

      • tenpercent on 08/05/2025 - 15:05
        +3

        I don't know why, but you saying "possums" made me think of this

      • reactor-au on 09/05/2025 - 09:14
        +1

        That's what my agent always says lol

        • tenpercent on 11/05/2025 - 12:05
          +1

          Wouldn't it be funny if JV is your agent.

  • srven3 on 08/05/2025 - 12:40
    +6

    Check your rental agreement, it will have a section on urgent repairs and who to call. This is an urgent issue.
    Depending on your state different rules will apply about habitability.

    If you're required to leave premises during repairs you'll likely be entitled to them providing you reasonable accommodation at their cost.

    Check laws in your state about uninhabitable rental properties
    ie…The position in NSW is regulated by the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
    Will have similar Acts in all states

    I agree with 87percent, mould going forward will be a factor (unless they get expert mould removal company in to do their stuff, not just a builder)

  • MS Paint on 08/05/2025 - 12:46
    +12

    for last 6 days I have a massage

    Lucky for some

    • jv on 08/05/2025 - 12:53
      -4

      I like happy endings…

      • freefall101 on 08/05/2025 - 20:06
        +1

        Most people don't go for a huge leak on them, but I'm not here to kink shame.

    • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 21:32

      Might get some relief from extras cover on PHI.

  • tenpercent on 08/05/2025 - 12:54
    +3

    massage ceiling leak

    Is that a euphemism?

  • tenpercent on 08/05/2025 - 12:56
    +4

    cut hole in the roof

    Cutting a hole in the roof would lead to further water ingress when it rains. Do you mean the ceiling?

    • MrFrugalSpend on 08/05/2025 - 17:50
      +5

      There are so many things not quite right with OP's statement…. but I get what OP means though. E.g.

      • I have a massage ceiling leak - rub rub
      • which is directly under my bed - the ceiling leak is under the bed… so the bed is up in the ceiling cavity or above ..?
      • belong ing and setting my bed - I'm not even sure, probably "belongings and wetting my bed"
      • trying to guide water into buckets - "this way water please, head north east then turn into bucket"
      • maybe 10 litres of water Daily, I have to empty so much it's a nightmare - most buckets hold 10L so its once a day… fairly mild nightmare. But OP shouldn't have to deal with this no.
      • *he will need to cut hole in the roof" - as you note, this doesn't make sense. I'm guessing if they used dye, OP might not even be on the top floor so the roof may have nothing to do with it. A lot of people confuse the ceiling with a roof though.

      The concern is legit though, OP should read the lease terms, and Tenant's Union may be able to help as others have said. A rent abatement is fair which should help with costs of it all.
      However most importantly, just move the mattress aside as much as possible until it is resolved. Like maybe where there is a kitchen table / coffee table or lounge temporarily.

  • tenpercent on 08/05/2025 - 12:57
    +5

    Does agent/landlord has to offer me temporary housing for me to stay as it is uninhabitable

    Contact the Tenants Union of NSW.

    Edit: don't leave any valuables behind if you can help it and film everything before you temporarily vacate so you have some evidence about the state of any damage.

  • Gdsamp on 08/05/2025 - 13:06
    -1

    Good luck OP
    my intuition says landlord may drag their feet into resolving it but hopefully it works out ok for you

    • jv on 08/05/2025 - 13:18
      -1

      landlord may drag their feet

      Do you personally know the landlord?

      • Gdsamp on 08/05/2025 - 13:19
        -1

        No, do you?

        • jv on 08/05/2025 - 17:33
          -1

          I don't have one.

    • JIMB0 on 08/05/2025 - 14:52
      +3

      They're usually pretty quick to fix water leaking as it does a lot of damage, unlike a busted fence that can stay like that for years.

    • star-ggg on 08/05/2025 - 14:57
      +1

      And what's the owner going to do with an uninhabitable studio apartment?

      • Gdsamp on 08/05/2025 - 14:57
        +1

        rent it to a lower bidder ,

        • star-ggg on 08/05/2025 - 14:58
          +1

          Lower bidder like a squatter?

      • JIMB0 on 08/05/2025 - 15:18
        +1

        Rent it out on Airbnb as a rainforest experience with the soothing sounds of water dripping from the ceiling helping you to relax.

        • star-ggg on 08/05/2025 - 15:32
          +1

          Wetting Fee = $1000

      • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 21:35
        -1

        Landlord's insurance?

  • Fredfloresjr on 08/05/2025 - 13:19
    +2

    OP, make sure Heisenberg doesn't live upstairs.

  • djones145 on 08/05/2025 - 13:38
    -1

    www.news.com.au
    7 news
    9 news
    aca

    if all else fails
    ozbargain mob

  • 7ekn00 on 08/05/2025 - 14:05
    +1

    I wasted many hours trying to guide water into buckets

    There are phone games based on that, just pretend you are Mario ;)

    • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 22:42
      +1

      At least there is usually a princess waiting in a castle somewhere for Mario.

  • jizmo on 08/05/2025 - 15:25
    -1

    Either water pipe or rain water ingress, insurance isn't going to pay for the repair unless it was from storm damage or a truck smashed into the place, from what you've described, it's wear from age.
    They need it signed off by a licensed plumber to certify the leaks repaired before insurance will pay for repair damages caused by the water.

    If it's a leak from a bathroom above your ceiling, body corp have to decide if the community pays it, or the owner above pays it on his own, for the plumbing repairs.
    Then they need to work out who pays the excess for the insurance to do plaster repairs to your place.

  • 7ekn00 on 08/05/2025 - 15:50

    Contact this gal, think she had a similar problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THNUuxQc73k&list=RDTHNUuxQc7…

  • ihbh on 08/05/2025 - 16:59
    +1

    As a minimum, as for the rent to be waived from the time of the leak. If that is the case, you might have to find your own accommodation; also no guarantees of damage to your property, etc., when you get back.

  • c64 on 09/05/2025 - 09:03
    +1

    Al Bundy lives upstairs

  • symo on 09/05/2025 - 16:39

    Not sure if it had been mentioned, but you could advise your agent that you will report this issue to Department of Health.

    Also, unless you on top floor and the leak is from damaged roof, don’t bother calling SES as they don’t do plumbing.

  • DEvok on 09/05/2025 - 21:25
    -2

    So since agent emailed strata and they sent plumber, agent always chasing me since they can't get to plumber for updates said I need to vacate the place cant live there untill they fix Monday will require full ceiling pipes replacement and gutting open the entire ceiling will be messy, so I should have the 1 week rent waived? This dripping mess started last Saturday already.

  • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 21:56

    Should not need to pay rent for the period you have been directed to vacate.

    Could be an argument that some rent is still required if you are still using the premises to store your personal possessions in.

    As you have lived there since leak started, more than likely entitled to a reduction in rent for loss of immenity, but as it seems to only be one room, unlikely to be very much.

    Might not be landlord's responsibility to provide alternative accomodation for you for period of complete vacancy, unless they are contracted to do so, it could be they just can't charge you for the cost of the service that they are not supplying.

    There is a law that says they can't charge you for goods or services they don't provide (ergo your rent) but may not mean they have to pay your costs to get that service somewhere else.

    Do note, that regardless of what their obligations are towards your accomodation situation, they will not be liable for any loss or damage to your belongings that may occur as a result of this issue.

    What that means is anything considered to be your contents are your responsibility and you are expected to have your own contents insurance for this.

    If you don't have sufficient insurance, get all of your possessions out of harm's way, including adequate security/storage for periods where you do not have sole/any occupancy.

    Could be landlord will provide financial assistance, so simply start by asking what they will/wont do.

    In the meantime, protect your belongings and assume that alternative accomodation is at your cost.

    Keep all of your receipts as you may have recourse through xCat to recover those costs, but any result from there may be months away. Short term, act as if these relocation costs will be at your expense and seek longer term remedy once you know the extent of your circumstances.

  • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 22:18

    Agent just ask me do I have place to stay I said maybe 2 nights but not for one freaking week! Since she doesn't know how long this will take.

    Even if you do, doesn't mean landlord should benefit from this if he is required to assist with alternative accomodation.

    Sure, if you have a decent landlord, if you can save him some hassle cos you can couch surf for free for a few days, that would be nice.

    But if it's more than a few nights, I'd personally keep any mates rates to yourself and see if they're going to help you out with alternative accomodation. Just because you can get mates rates, doesn't mean you have to pass these savings on to your landlord.

    If landlord is not forthcoming with alternative accomodation, for sure, utilise any mates rates you can and then seek alternative short term accomodation that you can afford, just in case your landlord drags his feet in reimbursing you or is never required to at all.

  • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2025 - 22:26
    +1

    Get vacate notice and date in writing as well. Just in case landlord is a muppet and you need to prove some claims at xcat etc in future.

    Create complete paper trail from now until you are satisfied with the outcome.

    All communication via email.

    Written log/diary of everything you do time/date especially during this process.

    => eg moved out on 1/5/25
    => spent $50 to hire trailer to move stuff

    Etc - document everything.

    Even keep track of spending/receipts for costs of food or laundry etc that you had to get because you couldn't cook or wash your clothes etc.

    Every expense you incur keep receipts for.

    Even go as far as to ask permission to spend money for costs you incur before you spend it.

    Again, get this permission/approval in writing. Will be just a bit more insurance for you if they decide to avoid doing the right thing down the track.

    Don't take anything for granted that is verbally communicated. If it's not in writing, assume it is not going to happen and act accordingly, and be pleasantly surprised if it does happen.

    When things start to cost a lot of money, people tend to get a bit cagey and may need encouragement to meet their legal obligations and turn a blind eye to moral obligations and outright deny any commitments or assurances they may have made verbally.

  • symo on 10/05/2025 - 00:32
    +1

    Not sure if mentioned already, but worth checking if property is covered by Landlord Insurance and it provides alternative accommodation during circumstances that you have experienced.

  • DEvok on 10/05/2025 - 00:47
    -1

    This what looks like
    https://ibb.co/0yMKF49x

    https://imgur.com/a/1l5Wd8s

  • DEvok on 17/05/2025 - 00:36

    They put some holes in ceiling drain water and few days after entire ceiling calapsed into me, made huge mess, I have asked for rent reduction they said will follow up with landlord and still no update, any idea how much rent reduction can claim as this went on for about 11 days?

    leaks fixed now just need builder to replace entire ceiling.
    https://ibb.co/sd5hB0X8

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