rainwater coming through wall

Posted by mikelr (169 days ago)

About 10 days or so ago I noticed a big damp patch on a wall of our apartment. It dried out but the problem has recurred a couple of times in heavy rain.

I spoke to the management office of our complex three days ago (Saturday morning). They came and took a photo of my wall but no sign of further action.

Any thoughts on what I should do next (apart from visit the management office and see what they are doing).

I have HSBC's home insurance package. Maybe that will cover it?

Also, any names of good English speaking builders in the Ma On Shan area who might be able to look at it for me?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Tags handyman, home repairs, insurance

Posted by evildeeds (169 days ago)

Do you own or lease the apartment?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mikelr (169 days ago)

I own the apartment

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Typhoon (169 days ago)

May want to chat to your strata corporation to see what you should do. There should be some umbrella organisation responsible for upkeep of the common parts of your building, i.e. the roof and walls.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by girlie (168 days ago)

A similar thing happened to us. There was a leak from the water pipe of the apartment above us, leaving a few big marks on our ceiling. After cleaning and painting it a few times, it kept re-appearing.
The management company and the developer's people came, took photos a few times -- then nothing. After a few visits from us, they eventually told us that it's really not their problem because we've own the flat for a few years and the warranty period is over.

After a lot of perseverance, we managed to prove to them that the pipes weren't put together properly in the first place. So, they did the work which would have cost us a lot of money.

Because you own the apartment doesn't mean you need to deal with every thing that goes wrong with it. I think your management company is stalling, hoping that you'll fix it, then their problem is gone.

Goodluck. I hope they sort it out for you.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mikelr (168 days ago)

Thanks for all of your comments.

Two people who were obviously building management professionals from the management office came to have a look. Their belief (though they honestly admitted it wasn't a certainty) was that the problem is that the hole letting the water pipe for the air conditioning unit into the building is too large. The heavy rain is getting through there.

Because we are high up, they guess that it will cost (me) 10,000 HKD to fix (because of the need for scafolding).

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Elodie (168 days ago)

I never quite understood this scaffholding business, they are so expensive to fit as it takes so much time and effort to put up! For a small job like this, why isn't it possible to have something similar to window-cleaning stuff? I have a local friend working for a building company, I'll ask him, maybe there's a safety requirement or something.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mikelr (168 days ago)

That would be great! Thank you.

(I am based in Hong Kong)