Who is liable for leakage damage?

Questioner

In February we noticed mold in our rental house and around March it was determined that it was caused by a leak in our toilet due to incorrect installation (we are the very first residents). The plumber then pushed the toilet out of place, which made the leak worse. After that, the hallway + part of a bedroom were flooded with sewage water. After that it took 9(!) months before the floor was completely repaired. The floor of this house was installed in the house by the landlord and is therefore not ours as tenants. Now we as tenants have received a bill for 5000 euros. But this seems extremely unfair since we did not cause the damage. Who is liable here? We as tenants or the landlord? And if they are liable. How do we ensure that they ultimately pay the bill?

Lawyer

Good afternoon, The question is who called the plumber. Was that you as the first tenant, or was that the landlord? And what was the reason that it took so long for the house to be repaired? Did you yourself suffer damage to your property? Who sent you the invoice for €5000? Was that the landlord or the (new contractor/plumber)? In such cases in which you know that you are not liable for the damage, it is important to contact the landlord and ask for an explanation. The landlord is usually liable for such defects and the resulting damage. After all, the house is his property. In order to be able to provide you with good advice, it is important to obtain more information about your case. Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation discussion. Kind regards, Silvienne Leito FerLei Legal 06-49175526