The homeowner received a lawyer’s letter from the downstairs neighbor, alleging that water had seeped into their bathroom ceiling, as well as the adjacent living room and hallway areas, and demanding substantial compensation. Attached to the letter was an adjuster’s report that appeared to provide solid evidence, suggesting that the seepage originated entirely from the homeowner’s bathroom. However, as the homeowner couldn’t find anyone reliable to assist, they sought our support online.

Upon reviewing the photos of the unit provided by the client and the readings in the adjuster’s report, we noticed inconsistencies. The report’s data on the bathroom ceiling indeed indicated that the water source likely came from an external wall connected to the bathroom, rather than from upper floor. At the same time, there were clear signs of leakage on the external wall outside the client’s room. We immediately arranged for a registered surveyor and waterproofing specialists to inspect the unit.

Through on-site professional testing witnessed by the surveyor, all drainage systems, floor waterproofing layers, and freshwater/saltwater supply pipes showed no signs of leakage. However, we confirmed that the source of the leakage aligned with the downstairs report but was even more severe. After the waterproofing team removed the damaged plaster and concrete surface, it was determined that all the steel reinforcements in the wall had rusted and expanded due to external water infiltration, posing a structural risk and putting the building’s safety in immediate jeopardy.

We promptly documented the findings and instructed the waterproofing team to implement temporary waterproofing repairs to ensure resident safety. Meanwhile, an inspection of the external wall revealed identical issues downstairs. For safety reasons, we decided to immediately notify the downstairs homeowner.

Upon learning that the surveyor’s judgment was flawed, the downstairs homeowner decided to halt legal action and sought our assistance, commissioning a surveyor to reassess the situation. The results confirmed our findings: the water seepage into the ceiling was entirely caused by external wall leakage spreading inward. Consequently, their bathroom and room walls also required urgent temporary waterproofing repairs to prevent structural collapse.

Having earned the trust of the downstairs homeowner, we compiled surveyor reports for both units, along with a lawyer’s letter, and submitted them to the property management office and the Owners’ Corporation, demanding immediate emergency repairs to the external wall and compensation for the homeowners’ losses. Additionally, due to the severity of the damage, the residents were unable to live in the units during repairs and had to relocate to a hotel, with the costs to be borne by the Owners’ Corporation.

During the external wall repairs, similar issues were discovered in the walls of adjacent and upper/lower units. These were addressed concurrently while scaffolding was in place, reducing future repair costs for the Owners’ Corporation and related parties.

What began as a surveyor’s blunder uncovered a severe, cascading leakage incident. Fortunately, thanks to the trust multiple parties placed in our professional handling, we avoided disputes and swiftly collaborated to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.