A tenant notices a faint damp patch behind the kitchen cupboards. It seems harmless, so nobody reports it immediately. Several weeks later, the skirting board has swollen, the flooring has started lifting and the adjoining wall feels damp. What might have been a relatively straightforward plumbing repair now requires a wider investigation. Hidden water leaks in rental properties present a particular challenge because landlords and managing agents cannot observe a building's condition every day. Problems may develop behind fitted furniture, beneath floors or inside walls, with the first visible signs appearing some distance from the source. Recognising changes early, responding...
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