Neighbour claiming water damage

[marsipants]

My downstairs neighbour had water damage on her ceiling. She came up to us to see it was anything we had done. We could not find anything and she then said it had stopped. Then she came up to say her insurance company wanted to send a builder round to look in our flat for a source of the leak. He came up and my partner was with him. He looked under the bath and said he couldn’t see anything and didn’t think it was the cause but we could maybe re-seal the bath.

I’ve now had a letter from lawyers acting for her insurance company telling me I have 21 days to post a queue for £700 plus her £50 excess for my negligence. My insurers said to write back to them with my policy details and tell them to contact them not me but I’m really worried about this.

[ummmm]

Do as your insurance company say. They will sort it out, that what you pay them for. They are just trying their luck.

[factor-fiction]

I agree totally with ummmm. Let them sort it. They may fight it or may settle. Unfortunately you may lose any no claims bonus but you could argue that point with them later. it does no harm though to point out that you were not the cause

[suspiw]

follow your insurers advice, nothing to worry about. The claim can be made via your insurance, thats why you pay it. Its always worrying when you get a lawyers letter. My daughter had her ceiling come down after her upstairs neighbours washing machine leaked over a long period. water accumulated inbetween two skins and finally flooded through. she gave her neighbour the option to put through insurance or pay the bill. i'm suprised your neighbour didn't offer you an option or enquire about an insurance policy.

[tonywiltshire]

Do not worry about a letter from a solicitor demanding money in 21days, there is a lot of bluff in English law and this may be part of it. As has been said refer the matter to your Insurer and let them sort it out with the other side, provide the solicitor with your insurer’s details and then pass any further letters to your insurer.