Who acts first
Tenants should tell the landlord or property manager promptly and in writing, with the date, what they noticed and photos. Owners and managers then arrange a plumber.
If water is surfacing, tenants can close the main if it is accessible and safe, and tell the manager at once.
A routine for managers and owners
Use this when a report comes in.
Log the report. Record the date, unit, signs and who reported it.
Check the meter. Find out whether it is a master meter or a unit meter.
Limit the water. Close the unit or building main if the leak is active.
Book a leak search. Arrange access and a time that suits the tenant.
Share the findings. Give tenants a plain update on what was found and when work will start.
We will plan around tenants.
Ask About Multi-Unit ChecksAccess and notice
Technicians need access to the floor and sometimes the meter and main. Give tenants clear notice. Tell them what the work involves, including noise, dust and any water shut-off period.
For small commercial units, plan around trading hours where possible. A short closure for a clean job can be better than repeated interruptions.
Signs managers can watch for
A water bill that climbs with no change in occupancy, damp or lifting flooring, and tenant reports of warm floors or running sounds. See high water bill hidden leak and sound of running water.
Vacant units are easy to miss. A water check between tenants is cheap and quick.
Repair choices in a rental
The same options apply: spot repair, reroute, lining and repiping. Floor finish, tenant disruption and cost steer the choice. See repair options compared.
Where a unit is let again soon, a reroute that leaves the floor intact can reduce downtime. A technician can explain which fits.
Describe what was said.
Tenant Reported a Leak? CallLooking after tenants
Tell tenants what is happening in plain terms: what was found, when the water will be off and when work will finish. Give a contact for questions. Clear updates reduce calls and complaints.
If tenants must leave for a time, plan access for drying and flooring as well as the repair, so they are not disturbed twice.
Small commercial buildings
Small commercial buildings often have bigger lines and more fixtures, such as restrooms, sinks and floor drains. A leak may sit in a line serving a single restroom or in a main feeding several units. The search follows the same steps, with more lines to isolate.
Food businesses and salons depend on water to open. Tell the technician your needs, so the work can be sequenced and water restored in stages where possible.
Routine checks for owners
Read the master meter on a schedule, such as the first of each month, and compare. Check vacant units between tenants. Ask each tenant to report warm floors, damp edges and running sounds promptly.
These checks take minutes and are an easy way to catch a hidden leak early.
Keep records
Keep the report, the findings, the invoice and the test notes for each leak. They help if the same unit leaks again and when you sell or hand over a building. See repeat slab leaks.
Drying and flooring replacement are separate trades. Plan them with the repair so the unit is not left open.
Who calls whom
In a rental, the person who notices the sign is often the tenant, and the person who arranges the repair is the owner or manager. A quick call from the tenant, followed by a message to the manager with the date, the sign and the meter result, keeps both sides working from the same facts. Keep the message short and factual.
We connect owners, managers and tenants with independent leak-detection technicians. We don't decide who is responsible for a repair, and we don't give legal or lease advice. That is a matter between the parties.
Vacant units and turnovers
A unit between tenants is exposed in the same way as a seasonal home: no one is there to hear a leak. The gap between one lease ending and the next starting is a good time for a meter check with every fixture off. Read the meter at the end of the walk-through and again before the next tenant arrives.
If the reading has moved, the next step is to isolate lines and look for the source. Doing it while the unit is empty makes access easier and avoids disturbing anyone.
Several units, one pattern
Owners with a number of similar properties often see the same age of pipe and the same type of slab across them. A leak in one unit is a reason to check the meters at the others built in the same period. It is not a sign that the others are leaking, only a prompt to look.
Keep a simple table for each property: build year, pipe material if known, date of any earlier leak and the technician's notes. Over time it shows which homes deserve the closest watch.
Giving the technician a useful briefing
Say whether the building is a single unit or part of a larger structure, where the main shutoff is, who holds the keys and when the occupant is available. If the building has a master meter or shared lines, say so. The technician can then plan equipment and access before arriving.
If the occupant is not the person calling, make sure they know a technician is coming and have agreed a time. Arriving at a locked door wastes a visit.
Keeping the building calm
A leak in a rental or small commercial unit affects more than one person. Tenants want to know when the water will be back. Neighbors wonder about the noise. The owner wants to know what it will take. A short, factual update at each stage keeps everyone from filling the gaps with guesses.
Tell the occupants what was found in simple words, when the water will be off, and when the work is expected to finish. Give them one phone number for questions, so that they do not have to chase several people.
For a small business, think about the working hours. Work that can be done out of hours or in sections is often less disruptive, and the technician can plan with you if you say so.
Afterwards, send a short closing note: what was found, what was done and what to watch for. It gives the occupants confidence and gives the owner a clean record.