Madrid Basement Flooded With Sewage After Month of Neglect
A Madrid basement has been flooded with raw sewage for a month after the homeowners' association refused to repair the broken drainpipe.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Madrid Basement Flooded With Sewage After Month of Neglect
The owner of a duplex ground-floor apartment near Bravo Murillo street in Madrid has had the lower level flooded with raw sewage for nearly a month. The fault was detected three months ago: a leak in the upstairs bathroom and another in the basement that smelled bad. Builders sent by the property manager identified the source: the light well and the sewage downpipe. The company issued a report declaring the repairs urgent. The manager replied that there were no funds in the account and told him to wait until August. When the owner threatened legal action, they sent a plumber with a camera. It was too late: the pipe had burst and the ground floor was destroyed and flooded with excrement. The community still hasn't acted.
What exactly peine in the Bravo Murillo basement?
The victim's account is precise. He bought the property two years ago. It is a duplex ground floor: the lower level is a basement and the upper one faces the street. Three months ago he noticed a leak in the upstairs bathroom and informed the manager. Shortly after, another leak appeared downstairs, accompanied by a foul odor. The manager sent builders, who determined that the upper leak came from the light well and the lower one from the sewage downpipe. The company issued a report declaring the urgency of the repairs. According to the victim, the manager ignored it: saying there was no money in the account and to wait until August. After an email threatening a lawsuit, they sent a plumber with a camera. By then the pipe had burst and the ground floor was destroyed and flooded with waste.
The community's response: a month of delays and no solution
Almost a month later, the manager still hasn't acted. They claim the plumber comes occasionally and that they are still searching. Meanwhile, every time neighbors flush the toilet, the house fills with more waste. The affected person describes the situation as permanently uninhabitable: the smell permeates everything and, since the ground floor is a basement, he antiestéticars it will become a septic tank emitting toxic gases. This is not just a clean water leak. It is raw sewage containing all the neighbors' waste.
Who pays for sewage damage in a homeowners' association?
The question of who bears the cost runs through the entire discussion. Some argue it should be covered by the community insurance, while others point out that if the victim doesn't have his own policy, the problem gets complicated. In reality, the community is responsible for general downpipes, but the judicial route can be slow. One participant recounts that in a similar case, in a commercial premises, they cut off the community's water supply for a weekend to force the repair. Another says that after years of leaks and cockroach infestations, the solution came when the pipe was repaired. The common experience is that without pressure, the community doesn't move.
Incivil proceedings against the community president
Several messages point to the possibility of incivil charges against the community president. The urgency of the damage and the community's knowledge of the situation could support a complaint for omission. However, it must not be forgotten that in Spain, the incivil route for these cases is exceptional and requires proving intent or gross negligence. Most lawyers would recommend first filing a civil claim for damages. The victim has not yet made a decision.
The structural problem of downpipes in old buildings
Beyond this specific case, several messages highlight a deeper issue: the downpipes in older blocks. In old buildings, pipes ran externally, facilitating their replacement. In new ones, they are embedded between walls, making any repair expensive and complicated. One participant warns that in 40 or 50 years, most buildings will face this problem. The conclusion is that communities should set aside funds for these works, something that rarely happens.
The smell of sewage: can it be eliminated?
Most messages agree that the smell of raw sewage is practically impossible to eliminate. Some suggest the only solution is selling the flat to an investor once cleaned. Others joke that in Madrid there is always someone willing to rent it, even under those conditions. The reality is that, according to testimonies, the smell persists for years and affects health. There is no magic solution: it requires professional cleaning, ventilation and, above all, eliminating the cause.
The case remains open. The community has not carried out the urgent repair and the owner is evaluating legal actions. Meanwhile, the house fills with shit every time someone flushes the toilet.
The owner of a duplex ground-floor apartment near Bravo Murillo street in Madrid has had the lower level flooded with raw sewage for nearly a month. The fault was detected three months ago: a leak in the upstairs bathroom and another in the basement that smelled bad. Builders sent by the property manager identified the source: the light well and the sewage downpipe. The company issued a report declaring the repairs urgent. The manager replied that there were no funds in the account and told him to wait until August. When the owner threatened legal action, they sent a plumber with a camera. It was too late: the pipe had burst and the ground floor was destroyed and flooded with excrement. The community still hasn't acted.
What exactly peine in the Bravo Murillo basement?
The victim's account is precise. He bought the property two years ago. It is a duplex ground floor: the lower level is a basement and the upper one faces the street. Three months ago he noticed a leak in the upstairs bathroom and informed the manager. Shortly after, another leak appeared downstairs, accompanied by a foul odor. The manager sent builders, who determined that the upper leak came from the light well and the lower one from the sewage downpipe. The company issued a report declaring the urgency of the repairs. According to the victim, the manager ignored it: saying there was no money in the account and to wait until August. After an email threatening a lawsuit, they sent a plumber with a camera. By then the pipe had burst and the ground floor was destroyed and flooded with waste.
The community's response: a month of delays and no solution
Almost a month later, the manager still hasn't acted. They claim the plumber comes occasionally and that they are still searching. Meanwhile, every time neighbors flush the toilet, the house fills with more waste. The affected person describes the situation as permanently uninhabitable: the smell permeates everything and, since the ground floor is a basement, he antiestéticars it will become a septic tank emitting toxic gases. This is not just a clean water leak. It is raw sewage containing all the neighbors' waste.
Who pays for sewage damage in a homeowners' association?
The question of who bears the cost runs through the entire discussion. Some argue it should be covered by the community insurance, while others point out that if the victim doesn't have his own policy, the problem gets complicated. In reality, the community is responsible for general downpipes, but the judicial route can be slow. One participant recounts that in a similar case, in a commercial premises, they cut off the community's water supply for a weekend to force the repair. Another says that after years of leaks and cockroach infestations, the solution came when the pipe was repaired. The common experience is that without pressure, the community doesn't move.
Incivil proceedings against the community president
Several messages point to the possibility of incivil charges against the community president. The urgency of the damage and the community's knowledge of the situation could support a complaint for omission. However, it must not be forgotten that in Spain, the incivil route for these cases is exceptional and requires proving intent or gross negligence. Most lawyers would recommend first filing a civil claim for damages. The victim has not yet made a decision.
The structural problem of downpipes in old buildings
Beyond this specific case, several messages highlight a deeper issue: the downpipes in older blocks. In old buildings, pipes ran externally, facilitating their replacement. In new ones, they are embedded between walls, making any repair expensive and complicated. One participant warns that in 40 or 50 years, most buildings will face this problem. The conclusion is that communities should set aside funds for these works, something that rarely happens.
The smell of sewage: can it be eliminated?
Most messages agree that the smell of raw sewage is practically impossible to eliminate. Some suggest the only solution is selling the flat to an investor once cleaned. Others joke that in Madrid there is always someone willing to rent it, even under those conditions. The reality is that, according to testimonies, the smell persists for years and affects health. There is no magic solution: it requires professional cleaning, ventilation and, above all, eliminating the cause.
The case remains open. The community has not carried out the urgent repair and the owner is evaluating legal actions. Meanwhile, the house fills with shit every time someone flushes the toilet.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (107 replies).
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