Hi guys,

I am not sure if this is the right place but I am a bit lost and hope to get some advices anyway...

Recently my tenant complained to me that there are water on the floor with foul smell near the kitchen area. At first I thought is some water pipe leakage. But upon inspection by the plumber, he confirms that the leakage is from a large drainage pipe that somehow pass through my parcel behind the brick wall near the kitchen. There is no water mark on the roof or anywhere else either. The water mark is visible on the wall only where the drainage pipe is.

Before I called my plumber to check, I actually got the management to inspect as well. They just told me it's internal piping leakage and ask me to settle myself (over whatapps).

I don't mind to pay for the repair; only if it's really my responsibility.

I read many cases about inter-floor leakage and all seems to attribute to pipe from upper floor leak and causes water to go down to the unit underneath.

So want to ask for advices from any knowledgeable person here:

1. Is my case also consider inter-floor leakage and the same strata title act 2015 clause applicable?
2. Is it my responsibility for the repair, or the management?
3. How can I protect my right if the management is trying to play foul? I don't want to make my tenant life miserable so I will most likely pay to repair first. But can I claim back from management later and what is the process?

Any leaking from above unlikely the fault of the lower unit.

The management should instruct the upper unit to rectify.

Any photos to share ?

Yes I have some videos. Still learning how to upload...

Was your plumber implying the leaking was actually coming from the common sanitary dropper pipe, the pipe was boxed in the wall at the back of your kitchen ?

This is what I'll do.

1) Approach the MO to request for the Operation & Manual for Sanitary Plumbing. Look for the schematic drawings & also the pipe discharge on your floor & the floor below. Usually the drainage pipe on the current floor will be reflected on floor below. You need 2 layout plans to check. Ask for your unit floor plan & floor below floor plan.

2) When checking the O&M, request the present of your plumber if you are unable to read the technical drawings. Let your plumber do technical talk with the M.O technical people to verify that the vertical pipe was a common dropper pipe & not pipe's belonged to your unit. Common dropper pipe to be taken care by the Management, individual parcel's pipe taken care by the owner. Vertical dropper / riser shall be categorized as common pipes.

If the outcome of validation indeed confirm the pipe was a common pipe, the MO should repair it. If the outcome of validation is otherwise, then you need to repair it.

For the plumber to be present, you may need to pay him some money for his technical advise/time spend. If the cost to get technical advise from plumber = same cost as repairing the pipe, no need waste time to argue / fight with MO, just repair on your own cost to save the time & minimize the discomfort of your tenant.