What to Do If Your Apartment Unit Is Flooded by the Unit Above

5/11/2024 (Permalink)

Unit was affected by a water damage from unit above.

Discovering that your apartment unit is flooded due to an incident in the unit above can be a distressing experience.

As alarming as it may be, staying calm is crucial. Assess the extent of the flooding and determine the source if possible. Is the water still flowing, or has it stopped? Identifying the cause can help you take appropriate action. Find out if the source of water is a category 1- clean water(e.g., burst pipes) or category 3 water - sewage (e.g., toilet over flow or drain line)

Contact your property management or landlord immediately to report the flooding. They may need to take action to stop the water source or assess the damage if the owner in the unit above is not present. 

Take photos or videos of the flooded areas!!! Take pictures of any damages to your belongings. This documentation may be necessary for insurance claims or disputes with your landlord or property management.

Familiarize yourself with your lease agreement and understand your rights and responsibilities regarding maintenance, repairs, and insurance coverage. If the flooding was due to negligence or misconduct by the tenant in the unit above, you may have grounds for compensation or legal recourse.

Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to seek temporary accommodations while repairs are underway. Keep receipts for any additional expenses incurred due to displacement, as these may be reimbursable through renter's insurance or by your landlord.

Call SERVPRO of Malibu to assist you with the drying of the structure or removal of the affected material  and Pack out of contents.

We are here to help 310-456-2135