Condominium guide
A condominium water-leak checklist for boards and managers.
A board does not need to diagnose the leak before calling. It does need a safe access path, a reliable building contact, and a record that separates what was observed from what is still unknown.
Before the investigation
Identify the affected and neighbouring units or common areas, confirm who can authorize and provide access, and gather relevant maintenance history, recent work, previous incidents, and the corporation's emergency contacts.
If water is active, call first and keep people away from electrical or structural hazards.
- Building and corporation name
- Affected unit, floor, and area below
- Manager or board contact with access authority
- Occupant contact and availability
- Known shutoff, alarm, or recent work information
During the response
Keep a simple timeline of discovery, calls, access, shutoff actions, and observations. Ask the investigator to distinguish confirmed evidence, likely pathways, and any area that could not be inspected.
Avoid deciding responsibility from the location of visible damage alone. Water can travel before it appears.
After the finding
Assign each next action: repair, selective access, drying or restoration, insurer notice, owner communication, document review, or prevention planning. Keep the technical finding separate from legal and insurance decisions.
If the event repeats a known pattern, ask whether targeted monitoring, sensor placement, or shutoff planning would provide a better control.
Questions people ask
Should the board notify every owner immediately?
Follow the corporation's emergency and communication procedures. Start with affected occupants and the people required for safe access and decisions, then expand communication as the facts and impact become clearer.
What if an affected unit cannot be accessed?
Document the failed access and use the corporation's authorized emergency-access process. The investigator should state how the limitation affects the finding.
Should the board admit responsibility during the first response?
The first response should focus on safety, stopping avoidable damage, access, and facts. Responsibility and coverage require the corporation's documents, insurer, and appropriate legal or professional advice.