What could be more unpleasant than discovering on the threshold of your own apartment the neighbors from below with a statement that you are filling them? It’s difficult to keep calm and not be confused in such a situation. And yet, if a person has flooded the neighbors below, what to do? Is it worth paying and how to determine the correct amount of compensation for damage?
Flood Action Algorithm
If there is a flood in your apartment, your first priority is to liquidate it. Turn off the water, and if this does not help (for example, water is coming from a battery or riser), immediately call an emergency service. It will not be superfluous to temporarily turn off the electricity. Try to remove water from the floor as soon as possible. Collect it with rags and towels. You can quickly eliminate minor puddles by throwing dirty laundry in them from the laundry basket.
If, despite all the measures taken, the flow of water has flooded the neighbors from below, what to do, we will tell you. As soon as you are convinced that nothing else is flowing in your apartment and all the pools are wiped, you can offer your help in cleaning the owners of the apartment located under yours. Not always during a flood, neighbors from below come with complaints to the culprits of what happened. If you yourself managed to eliminate a significant leak in your own apartment, do not be too lazy to personally pay a visit to those who live a floor below. Ask if the water has reached the neighbors and whether they have complaints.
Who is to blame for the gulf of the neighbors' apartments below?
Do not rush to plead guilty if a flood occurs in your apartment. The homeowner is only to blame if he forgot to close the tap or used faulty plumbing equipment. In case of breakthroughs of central heating batteries, sewer pipes and risers, the management company responsible for the repair and maintenance of communal property can be recognized as the culprit.
Do not forget that the true cause of flooding can be damage to the roof or supporting structures of the house. In rare cases, it is possible to prove that the cause of the flood is poor-quality plumbing or errors in its installation. So, if you are sure that there is no direct fault in the accident, you need to call a commission from the Housing Office. Experts will record all the circumstances of the bay and determine its causes.
Subtleties of conducting flood examinations
A commission from the Housing Office may conduct a free examination during a flood. However, if you do not like the results of this study, it makes sense to invite an independent expert. During the examination, the perpetrator of the accident has been determined and an act of flooding is drawn up. This document is critical for the affected party. It is on its basis that damage can be recovered. The flooding act will also help the owner of the apartment in which the water leaked.
If it turns out that the flood occurred due to the fault of the manufacturer or installer of the plumbing equipment, the claim is drawn up on the basis of expert opinion and the act of flooding. It will not be superfluous to independently record the extent of what happened. The court considers photo and video materials, testimony as evidence.
What if the culprit of the flood is you?
Sometimes the cause of the flood is obvious - for example, an unclosed faucet or a broken hose of a washing machine. In cases where without examination it is clear who flooded the neighbors from below, what to do? Compensation for damage may be carried out in pre-trial procedure by personal agreement.So, what to do if you agree with the claims of the neighbors from below about flooding? Invite victims to voice their demands. It is possible that you will only be required to compensate for damaged wallpapers and other building materials. In this case, there are two options: to compensate the damage caused in cash or to personally make a purchase in a hardware store. Do not forget to ask a neighbor to write a receipt saying that compensation has been received and that he has no complaints.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to agree quickly and simply. It happens that you do not agree with the amount requested as compensation, but acknowledge that you flooded the neighbors from below. What to do? How to estimate the real amount of damage? A flood can damage not only wallpaper and furniture, but also expensive household appliances, art objects and other valuables. If you are not ready to compensate for the required amount, it makes sense to resolve this issue in court. In this case, the plaintiff will have to justify and prove the value of the damaged property.
How not to pay for the consequences of the flood?
If you have flooded the neighbors below, how not to pay for the damage? The easiest way to avoid unplanned expenses is to peacefully negotiate with the owner of the affected apartment about the consequences of the accident. For example, the culprit of the flood may offer to independently repair the flooded rooms, repair furniture and appliances that were affected by water.
If the neighbors agree to this option for compensation for damage caused, be sure to draw up a written agreement. It happens that a person through no fault of his own flooded the neighbors below. What to do? In the event that the examination determined that the flooding was due to worn pipes, defects in the water supply or sewage system, faulty equipment or improper installation, claims must be made to the true culprit of the accident.
Who will pay for the flood that occurred in the rented apartment?
One of the most controversial cases of apartment flooding is a flood that occurred in a rented apartment. If tenants flooded the neighbors from below, what should the property owner and the injured party do? Tenants can only be found guilty if the flooding of the lower apartment occurred directly because of their actions or inaction. We are talking about the improper use of plumbing, the use of faulty equipment. At the same time, it will only be possible to hold the tenants accountable if the lease is correctly drawn up. If this condition is not met, the owner of the apartment is recognized as responsible for the consequences of the accident.
If going to court is inevitable
In cases where the flood occurred due to the fault of the management company, utilities, installer or manufacturer of plumbing, it is rarely possible to obtain pre-trial compensation. How to draw up a statement and what documents should be prepared if you have flooded the neighbors from below? What to do? A lawyer specializing in such cases will answer this question by examining the details of a particular case.
Without experience in this area, it is quite difficult to do without professional help. During the trial, much attention is paid to the evidence presented. Mandatory documents - an act of flooding and the results of an examination of the causes of the accident. If possible, be sure to attract witnesses and attach personal photos and videos. Your chances of collecting decent compensation will increase if you can confirm the value of the affected property. In addition, the plaintiff may claim non-pecuniary damage.
Flood Prevention
If you become a little more neat and careful in the details, you may never have to think about what to do if you flooded the apartment of the neighbors from below.How to minimize the likelihood of a flood? Accustom yourself to always shut off the water supply to the apartment when leaving for a long time. Try not to leave the crane turned on unattended.
Teach your loved ones, especially the youngest members of the family, to handle the water properly. Inspect all the pipes in your home regularly, and if leaks are found, repair them in a timely manner. Following these simple rules will help you avoid unpleasant and potentially dangerous situations. If any member of your family or friend nevertheless flooded the neighbors from below, what to do will tell our instructions.
