Water In Unit Below Me - Do I Care?

MichaelLC

So I'm on the top (4th) floor of my condo building.

It raid shit-hard last couple of weeks here, and we got some water through the deck door. No biblical flooding, just some wet bath towls. However, apparently the unit directly under me got significant water damage in their ceiling. Bldg guy tells them it must be that jerk upstairs (me).

So we have the bldg look at our window, and yes, wasn't sealed properly, eg, at all (by the last owners), and the cement sill is tilted back inside, so water will all run back into the building. Says it's our problem and leaves. I checked with a level, and it is at the wrong angle.

This weekend I shot some Great Stuff under the door, and plan to calulk when it stops raining, but the sill needs to be fixed, and need to deal with the lady downstairs.

So is the cement sill my problem? Seems like thet'd be the building's responsibility. Also, am I responsible for the one below? It sounds like the bldg put that idea in her head to avoid her coming after them.

meeker

Condo? Outside structure? That would be the building association's resposibility. You did not build the place, my guess is that you have no control over the exterior of the building.

Fight this one...

MichaelLC

So I talked to the office lady and she says the sill would be my problem.

Would the assocation bylaws should spell all that out? They gave me a book when we moved in, but all it says is spilting betwern outside (them) and inside (me).

I know about groklaw, but are there any good sites for looking up building codes, or is just dependent on the Association?

Xaquin

the sill is in no way your problem. The building was built before you were there. You did no damage to the sill. Don't let them screw you.

DrZiplock

Yep. Don't let them take you on this one. You didn't build the structure. Things like that aren't your fault.

Fight it and if need be, consider calling in an outside contractor to give you an assesement of the work. He or an inspector will be able to tell right away and with much credibility that it was a building fault and not your own.

japan

MichaelLC wrote: »

So is the cement sill my problem? Seems like thet'd be the building's responsibility. Also, am I responsible for the one below? It sounds like the bldg put that idea in her head to avoid her coming after them.

Do you own the place? And are all the apartment's insured as a block?

If you share buildings insurance, the damage is the insurance company's problem. Also, if they come after you for repair money, contact your insurer (shared or otherwise).

If you rent, the sill is your landlord's problem.