A ceiling stain does not establish the upstairs owner's liability, and repainting does not demonstrate that the source has been repaired. Build a dated record that supports investigation and maintenance.
What to have ready
Before you start
The FEHD and Buildings Department Joint Office uses its new procedures for cases received from 16 July 2026; earlier cases follow the previous process. Initial investigation includes infrared and moisture measurements. Where there is reasonable belief that the source is the upper unit, a Notification Letter can require inspection and repair within twenty-eight calendar days. This is not a promise that every complaint is resolved within twenty-eight days, nor proof that every damp mark is a statutory public-health nuisance. Check your case's receipt date and the exact letter received.
What to do, step by step
- Photograph the location and changes with dates. Record whether seepage coincides with rain or water use, and notify the landlord and management office without asserting an unproven source.
- Report the full address and observations to the Joint Office and retain the case reference. Once a case manager is assigned, use that contact for questions about access, evidence and progress.
- Arrange access for investigation and keep letters, repair quotations and completion records. Ask whether a finding is preliminary or a confirmed source before using it in a separate cost dispute.
- Continue documenting conditions after repair and follow the case manager's testing instructions. Handle a claim for damaged decoration or contents separately, supported by invoices and the relevant tenancy or ownership records.
Costs, timing, and things to check
Rain entering through a roof, wall or window and leakage from deteriorated fresh-water mains may involve building maintenance or another department. Ask which route applies rather than assuming one nuisance process covers all sources.
Persistent seepage can lead to further investigation and statutory action under the new procedure. An owner receiving a letter should arrange appropriate technical help promptly and preserve evidence of cooperation.
A practical example
A tenant observes bathroom dripping on dry days and keeps several dated photographs. After reporting to the landlord and manager, the tenant cooperates with the Joint Office. A letter to an upper owner is kept with the case record without presenting a preliminary finding as a court judgment. After repair, the tenant records whether dripping returns and asks about follow-up testing, retaining separate receipts for damaged items.
Track the source and formal investigation alongside the visible damage.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.