Plumbing

Water leak - from ground floor flat affecting upper first floor flat.

Anonymous user 04/08/2026 - 8.05 AM

A leak from a council owned property, based downstairs has affected my upstairs property. The council property has been empty and locked up for almost 2 years. 3 weeks ago workmen sent to repair the damp wall in this property discovered a leak. The leak is the pipe underneath the staircase, or the underside of my stairscase, that is the staircase running up in my property. The flats are in the same building as it is a converted house but each flat has its own entrance. The operatives explained that the leaking pipe is the pipe which carries water from the outside into both flats. Question is, can water travel upward and affect the ceiling and both sides of the party wall in the upstairs flat. As the walls on both sides of my entrance, lower landing, are damp and efflorescence. Also, the ceiling, at entrance, lower landing, has come down due to the water ingress. All the areas in my property that have been affected by the damp are in the front part of the building which is where the leak occurred in the downstairs flat. Council surveyor sent to my property, 6 mths ago, was unable at the time, to find definite source of the leak though he acknowledged that the cause of the damp in my property is water ingress. Again, can water travel upward?

James Pritchard Plumbing and heating

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/52 reviews

Plymouth

Long story short, yes. Capillary action can cause a water leak to travel upwards to an extent, through a property inside of the building materials, such as the timber and plaster. It is worth checking your own meter for leaks and if you haven't already, invest in a dehumidifier to help combat the humidity.

Answered4 August 2026

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Nero Flow

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/51 review

Derby

Yes water does not naturally travel upward against gravity but it can spread upwards through capillary action in porous materials such as brick, plaster and mortar. It can also track sideways and appear some distance from the original leak. A prolonged leak from the shared incoming water pipe could therefore reasonably cause damp efflorescence and ceiling damage in the upstairs flat, particularly if it has been leaking for an extended period. The council should investigate and repair the source of the leak and assess all resulting damage.

Answered4 August 2026

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