Tell the landlord and the other units, shut the main if you can reach it, and call (413) 603-1274. Landlords: we fix the pipe and dry every unit the water reached in one call.
Why one burst becomes three problems
Chicopee has a lot of two- and three-deckers: about a quarter of all homes are in buildings with two to four units, and more than a third in Willimansett and Chicopee Center. In these buildings units are stacked, bathrooms and kitchens line up floor over floor, and water from a burst pipe runs down through walls and ceilings into every unit below. One frozen pipe on a third-floor porch can mean three wet apartments, one owner, three sets of belongings and several insurance policies.
For landlords
- Shut the water at the building main. Make sure every tenant knows where it is.
- Check every unit, not just the one that called. Water travels.
- Keep tenants safe. Power off to wet areas, people away from sagging ceilings.
- Document every unit before cleanup.
- Call us. (413) 603-1274. We repair the pipe, map the moisture in every unit and dry them together.
Under the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, owners must supply heat from September 15 to May 31 and keep plumbing in working order. A burst caused by the building usually falls on the owner to fix. See Massachusetts landlord heat rules.
For tenants
- Stop the water if you can reach a valve. Turn off lights and outlets in wet rooms.
- Tell the landlord right away, by phone and in writing (text or email), with photos.
- Protect your belongings. Move them away from the water.
- Call your renters insurer if you have a policy. It covers your belongings, not the building.
- If the landlord does not respond, contact the local board of health for a housing inspection.
See pipe burst in your apartment: what to do first and does renters insurance cover a burst pipe.
What we do in multi-family buildings
- Fix the burst pipe and test it under pressure
- Map moisture in every unit and the shared hallways and basement
- Dry the ceiling and floor cavities between units
- Keep records per unit, so the owner and each tenant's insurer get what they need
- Schedule the work so tenants are disrupted as little as possible
Who pays
Usually: the owner's policy covers the building, each tenant's renters policy covers their own belongings, and a tenant who caused the damage, for example by turning the heat off, may be held responsible. Leases and facts matter. Read upstairs water damage: who pays and can a landlord charge a tenant for frozen pipes. General information only, not legal advice.
Preventing it next winter
- Insulate or heat pipes on back porches and in stairwells
- Keep vacant units heated between tenants
- Replace old main and unit shut-off valves so they actually close
- Give every tenant the location of the main shut-off
Getting tenants their water back
In a multi-family house with one main shut-off, stopping a burst in one unit cuts water to everyone. That is often the most urgent problem after the leak itself: tenants in the other units need water, and the sanitary code expects hot and cold water to be supplied. The fix is to repair or cap the broken section quickly so the main can go back on, then dry the affected units while everyone else has water again. Where a building has no shut-off for each unit, adding them during the repair means the next leak only takes one apartment offline.
Working around tenants
Drying equipment runs for several days, is noisy and gives off warmth. In occupied apartments we plan where machines go so bedrooms and kitchens stay usable where possible, keep cords out of walkways, and tell tenants how long each room will be affected. Landlords get readings for every unit, so you know when each one is dry and can schedule repairs. Tenants can ask us questions directly, but repair decisions and costs go through the owner or manager.
Keeping records for every unit
When several units are affected, insurers and owners need to see what happened in each one. Photos, moisture readings and lists of removed materials are kept unit by unit. If a tenant's belongings were damaged, those go on the tenant's own renters claim, so tenants should photograph their own things too. See does renters insurance cover burst pipes.
Apartment water damage questions
Do tenants have to leave during drying?
Usually not. If a unit has no safe power, water or heat, or ceilings have to come down, the owner may need to arrange somewhere to stay.
Can a tenant call you directly?
Yes, especially for emergency advice. Repairs to the building are normally approved by the owner.
How long does the landlord have to fix it?
Conditions that endanger health and safety must be fixed quickly under the sanitary code. See how long a landlord has to fix water damage.
Water in a multi-family building? Call now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee. See areas we serve.