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[Molly]

Hi

I am hoping someone can assist me or guide me with what I do next.   Almost 4 months ago, my washing machine bung came out of the back of my machine during a wash and flooded the whole of my apartment (1 bedroom unit).   At the time I phone the Managing Agent as I rent to ask who I contact.  They told it was my problem and I had to ensure all repairs were done and wouldn’t help further –  I am living alone and was devastated with what happened and how to rectify this on a Saturday.

I had a plumber come in immediately and identified the issue – what he also told me was that there was a building defect in the wet area (the washing machine is in a cupboard area with a sink etc).   The water drain on the floor in that area has the basin built over top of it, with no access from the floor to the drain in an event of a flood – there was a piece of wood that was placed across the cupbard opening obviously to act as a lip so the water would be redirected to the drain, however the height of this and the access to the drain from the cupboard just doesn’t match up – and the water of course went straight under the piece of timber on to the marble floor and into the carpet flooding most of the apartment.  The Plumber advised me that if there had been access to the drain the extent of the flooding would have been tramatically reduced and possibly only in the marble area.

I had the water removed and carpet dried at a cost of $1k, and from the a professional builder and plumber have been advised not to do any further repairs due to this defect – to cut a long story short, I contacted the Agent, the Agent turned up 1 month later with the strata manager, who told me it wasnt a building defect – and since then I have been told by the Agent they will take me to the tribunal, when I wrote again in a  months time to see what the action plan is, I have been told the Landlord is contacting his insurers, its now been another month and I have not heard anything. 

 

There has been no clarification on whether this is a building defect, I take total responsiblity for my washing machine and some of the cost, but I do not feel that I should be paying for a full re-carpet – is the $1k I have currently paid reasonable? and I being reasonably treat now given the length of time and the run around I am getting from this Agent who continues to tell me its my fault it was my machine.

 

I just do not know where to from here.   Your advice would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks  Molly

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