[mjk]

We got a nice surprise yesterday night when there was suddenly water coming from several places slowly flooding our flat. It seeped through the wooden doorframe, squirted through some tiles – nasty.
Luckily we managed to notice this early although it was after midnight. (it had only just started). The security guard helped us to switch of the water supply to our flat, so it stopped after a while. Although it came from the fresh water pipes, it looks, feels and smells quite used.

Today the landlord came with a plumber, and it will take about 5 days to repair, as the broken pipe runs from the kitchen to the bathroom below the living room floor.

Two questions
1. My landlord wants to save some money and run a new pipe inside the flat somewhere along the ceiling and wall, as it is too costly for him to a) open up the entire floor or b) run the pipe outside the flat (they way it should be in HK I was told). I can’t imagine that it will look very presentable in my living room. Is this acceptable or does it entitle me to rent reduction if it doesn’t turn out well?
2. We will have no water for the next 5 days and some intensive construction going on. The security guard told us to check in to a hotel and present the bill to our landlord. Our landlord rejected this idea and said we can go to the public shower on the 4th floor of the wet market opposite! He then offered to pay for some bottles of water from wellcome. Should he pay the hotel?

In the meantime we have secured a shower in the same building in an empty unit (because the security guard is helpful and has a key…).

[discobay]

The landlord should provide alternative accomodation or reimburse you if he wants you to vacate the premises or makes it so unbearable that you can't live there whilst renovation is going on. Contact the Citizens Easy Link on 1823.

[MotoHK]

Originally Posted by mjk

We got a nice surprise yesterday night when there was suddenly water coming from several places slowly flooding our flat. It seeped through the wooden doorframe, squirted through some tiles – nasty.
Luckily we managed to notice this early although it was after midnight. (it had only just started). The security guard helped us to switch of the water supply to our flat, so it stopped after a while. Although it came from the fresh water pipes, it looks, feels and smells quite used.

Today the landlord came with a plumber, and it will take about 5 days to repair, as the broken pipe runs from the kitchen to the bathroom below the living room floor.

Two questions
1. My landlord wants to save some money and run a new pipe inside the flat somewhere along the ceiling and wall, as it is too costly for him to a) open up the entire floor or b) run the pipe outside the flat (they way it should be in HK I was told). I can’t imagine that it will look very presentable in my living room. Is this acceptable or does it entitle me to rent reduction if it doesn’t turn out well?
2. We will have no water for the next 5 days and some intensive construction going on. The security guard told us to check in to a hotel and present the bill to our landlord. Our landlord rejected this idea and said we can go to the public shower on the 4th floor of the wet market opposite! He then offered to pay for some bottles of water from wellcome. Should he pay the hotel?

In the meantime we have secured a shower in the same building in an empty unit (because the security guard is helpful and has a key…).

I dont know about #1. Depends on what you pay. If your "crib" is a dive then maybe your expectations are too high. Regarding #2, seems like BS. Fact that you even considered it shows you are a pushover with the landlord. Should have rejected it right away. Now you have to negotiate to get something back you gave away. Stuff like that should not even be on the table. Hilarous.

BTW the security guard is helpful because he expects a tip. Ask yourself should you really have to run around like that while paying rent? I can understand one day but a whole week of not showering seems like BS. Try to at least get a rent reduction of 50% for 5 days if you want to negotiate some crazy stuff like that.

[MotoHK]

On 2nd reading you state intensive construction!. That's it. The whole thing is non-negotiable. Tell the landlord the whole thing is BS.

[mjk]

The landlord finally waived the rent for each day without water.
Fair deal I would say.

[KnowItAll]

mjk : I didn't see this earlier.

We had our apartment flooded once and the insurance policy we had on for home contents etc included stay in a hotel for the duration of the repairs.

Not sure if the landlord has home / fire / structural insurance (chances are he does have it if he has an outstanding mortgage) and he *might* be able to claim it from them.

[philohk]

Hi all, just had to resurrect this. I'm in Happy Valley and last week a main serving 7 buildings burst. I assumed the landlord knew but actually she didn't, until today. I agree with the replies that have been posted here so far about landlord liability but my situation is a but different in that being 7 buildings this is clearly not just the landlord's responsibility. Meantime, it won't be fixed until Feb 1.

The management company wants to come inside my flat to run a pipe above ground because they say fixing the old one underground is too expensive, and they're paying. The landlord told me not to let anyone in because they told her their insurance won't cover the new pipe if it floods due to wear and tear. She wants more time to resolve it with the insurance company, and I'm happy to give her a day.

So, my question: I know what I WANT (quick fix and rent reduction) but is there any legal basis/precedent that people know of for this situation? Unfortunately it's not covered in my tenancy agreement and I want to put a solid case, not just screaming demands. 1823 says legally I can't demand a reduction as the mains pipe isn't the landlord's responsibility, though we could do a deal. I'll try this. But if she delays repair (and they weren't helpful on this issue) then I am demanding. What do folks think?