damp coming from upstairs flat???

[sarah1979]

Over the last couple of months I have found damp/mould in my kitchen and bathroom. I have lived in the flat from when it was built three years ago and have never experienced this before. The mould patches are near to each other (ie: right back corner of kitchen and left back corner of adjoining bathroom). I've cleaned off with mould remover several times but it keeps coming back.

My question is- what do i do with regards to getting it sorted? It's a shared ownership flat and I pay a monthly service charge which includes buildings insurance (i have my own contents insurance).

I've spoken to the man who lives upstairs and he says he can't find any leaks in his flat (don't suppose he would admit to it if he had though...??) The housing association that i bought the flat through are not being very helpful- saying that i need to sort it out with my neighbour- but how???????!!!!

[nonomaybe]

I suspect this is another case of insufficient ventilation. I would suggest you speak with your insurance company, and one would expect you have some sort of NHBC so get them involved - BEFORE you do too much DIY which will enable the various parties to wash their hands of the problem.

[buildersmate]

No, I disagree. The symptoms described do not suggest it. Been there three years with no problem, and evidence of dampness in two places in two different rooms but linked near a common wall. Also issue has occured in the back in the back end of summer - its not the dead of winter yet.
Something is quietly leaking away in there. If you are satisfied with your neighbours explanation, then it is more likely that a pipe in the floor above the area is quietly dripping.
Contacting the NHBC is a dumb idea. Once two years' are up, these policies revert to structural warranty only for the balance of time up to 10 years in total. They will not deal with it.
You are going to have to work through the HA, as it is very likely that someone is going to have to poke a hole in your ceiling to find the problem. However it is most likely to be his pipe leaking - not yours.
Is it on a potential route for either water coming in, or more likely a sewage run pipe on its way out?