What to Do If You Find a Leak in Your Apartment

By Lilly Milman

May 22, 2024

What are the signs of a leak in your apartment?

• You begin to see water stains on your ceiling or walls. If there is discoloration or brown stains, often in the shape of rings, forming anywhere on drywall, that’s a tell-tale sign of a water leak. Even if the discoloration is dry to the touch, it’s evidence that water is leaking somewhere.
• The paint on your ceiling or walls is peeling or cracking. If you have been noticing that your paint is flaking, peeling, or cracking, that could be a sign that moisture has been building up in an area over a longer period of time.
• The ceiling appears to be sagging. If your ceiling gets filled with water, you will literally be able to see it sometimes as it will appear to be sagging down with the weight of it.

What should you do if you discover a leak in a rental?

1. Call your landlord or property management’s maintenance department. Whenever you discover an issue with your apartment — from a pest issue to a leak — it’s important that you let your landlord or building management team know immediately. Oftentimes, they’ll already have a process in place for how to deal with this issue.
2. Take photos and/or videos of the damage. It’s also important to keep a paper trail when you need to get maintenance done in your apartment. Make sure to take photos and/or videos of all the signs you used to identify the leak, which you can send to your landlord to give them a sense of the damage that has already been done.
3. Move any belongings out of the way. If there is an active leak dripping its way into your apartment, then you’ll want to protect your stuff. Move anything that’s in the path of the leak out of the way, whether it’s furniture or a rug. If you can’t move something out of the way, consider covering it with a waterproof covering. You can use a tarp, or even a shower curtain or plastic tablecloth to cover whatever is in the way in a pinch.
4. Clean up any mess from the water. If there’s water on the floor or on your belongings, wipe it up quickly before any more damage is done. Once you’ve dried the floor off, you can lay down a tarp or shower curtain to protect it from further damage until the problem is solved.
5. Find a vessel to catch the leaking water. Grab the nearest bucket or bin and place it under the leak to contain any water until the leak is sealed. Keep an eye on it, because you may need to swap it out if it gets too full.
6. Talk to your neighbors about the leak. If your ceiling is leaking, the source is likely coming from outside your apartment. Talking to your neighbors can help you learn more about what caused the leak (for example, an upstairs neighbor may have accidentally flooded their apartment) and help them take preventative action before any damage comes to their apartment. Or, if they’ve also been seeing water damage in their place, you can come to your landlord together to let them know there’s a bigger issue in the building.
7. File a claim with your renters insurance company. If you have a renters insurance policy, you’re in luck. Filing a claim with your insurance company can help cover damage to any of your personal belongings that got damaged. Just note that most policies won’t cover damage done by a natural disaster or flood; that would require a separate flood insurance policy.

What can cause a leak in your apartment?

• Your upstairs neighbor flooded their apartment. Whether it’s from an overflowing bathtub, clogged toilet, or leaking an appliance, if you have a leaking ceiling, your upstairs neighbor is often the culprit. If you discover a new ceiling leak, go upstairs, check on them, and alert them to the issue.
• There’s something wrong with your appliances. Check your air conditioning unit, refrigerator, humidifier/dehumidifier, washing machine, water heater, and dishwasher when you’re trying to identify the source of your leak — especially if there are signs of discoloration around there. A faulty appliance can easily be the cause of a leak.
• Your building has broken pipes. It’ll be difficult to diagnose these kinds of leaks yourself, so you’ll want your landlord to call in an expert. If not properly dealt with, leaks that are caused by structural damage to an apartment building can cause mold and mildew over time.
• A natural disaster, like a flood or hurricane. Large storms, natural disasters, and floods can lead to your apartment getting water damage — especially if your unit is located on a lower level. It’s always a good idea to have an emergency plan in place for ensuring your safety if you live in an area that experiences flooding or hurricanes.

What are your renters rights if there is a leak in your apartment?

The Bottom Line