Greetings! I am happy to have found this expert community and recently joined. My question is: how probable is it that a toilet can run but there is no sound of running water?As way of background, my apartment building which has about 25 units has one shared water meter that we all split and there was a spike in the water bill for a couple of months. Towards the end of this period (this happened in the course of about 3 days), the person living below me said he heard water running from somewhere. They believe it's my toilet (a couple of other people who live in the building visited when I wasn't there and said that the toilet was running). I called in a plumber who came by the next day and he didn't find anything wrong with the toilet. They are requesting that I pay for the entire amount above the usual water bill which comes out to over $1k. I can see that they have an argument for the time the neighbor heard the water running. How probable (as I guess anything is possible) is it that my toilet was running for almost 2 months but no one heard anything? This is a time of year where the water bill has historiccally usually spiked (not this much) so I can believe my toilet may have contributed to it but since we all share the water meter, I have a hard swallowing that I'm responsible for all of it.Thanks in advance for your help. Your input is very appreciated.

They are requesting that I pay for the entire amount above the usual water bill which comes out to over $1k.

That on the surface is a bit ridiculous. Find out the rate you are paying for water and translate that into gallons. A leaking toilet might increase a water bill over two months by $100 or even $200 if you have a high cost per gallon.


I called in a plumber who came by the next day and he didn't find anything wrong with the toilet.

That is your defense.

the person living below me said he heard water running from somewhere.
What that person hear was water moving in a pipe. It could have been anywhere, above, below or next door.


(a couple of other people who live in the building visited when I wasn't there and said that the toilet was running)
What are people doing in your apartment when you are not there?
If they heard your toilet running you should have heard it also.

The group ( association or what ever it is called) needs to call a plumber to find the leak.

You are only required to pay what your lease says. If it is equal share then equal it remains. Your landlord ir responsible for upkeep and plumbing repairs. In most leases there is no requirement that you inspect your apartment for problems and report them immediately. Who is the "they are requesting" If you mean the other tenants you have no legal arrangement with them and they have not authority over you

Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate your input. For clarification, the apartment is my place (I own it) and my friend was renting it from me. She was the one who let the neighbors in. She says she didn't hear any water running although now the association thinks that if the plumber didn't find any issues, it was because my friend googled online and fixed the toilet before the plumber got there (she definitely didn't as she's NOT a handy person). If it was my toilet, I'll own up to it and foot the bill but at this point, I'm not convinced the entire amount is caused by my toilet alone so I'm trying to figure out how best to proceed.The association is saying that this was caused over a 2 month period although the neighbor who first heard the water heard it the last few days (maybe a week) of the second month. But they say that the entire 2 months of the water bill increase was caused by the toilet. So how likely is it that a toilet could be running without anyone hearing it for almost 2 months? If a toilet runs, does it run constantly (i.e. can it run sometimes, then stop running, then resume)?

So you own a condominium apartment. The condominium association is responsible for maintaining the common elements and paying for common utilities. That is what you pay your condominium fees for. This is a legal contract, not an agreement among friends or neighbors.
The condominium association is run by a board of directors and officers subject to the condominium documents and state law. Get out your condominium documents. I seriously doubt that you will find anything that says because someone thinks something, or someone heard something, you are responsible for a common expense. Even if your toilet was running continuously for two months the association is responsible for the common expenses.

Do you think the association is going to reduce your condo fees if you go on vacation for three months?

You need to stop all discussions on this matter. From what you relate the association must be being run by some less than qualified people. Should they in their ignorance, attempt to levy some assessment, you would be entitled to a hearing. Should that happen, just show up at that hearing with a lawyer to explain things to them. That may sound like an extreme but it is cheaper and better than having to pay a lawyer to go to court to vacated such a levy.

This is not an agreement among friends. It is not a "go along to get along" with your neighbors. Nor is it about doing the "right thing". This is a legal contract and each party has legal obligations. If it is the legal obligations of the association to pay for the common use of water, it is their obligation, regardless of who, how or why the water was used.

I'll repeat. Stop all discussions. It is the association's expense. Do not even consider paying anything. To do so would cloud the issue. Do you want someone asking to you to pay more because you have your thermostat set higher or lower than they do, or because you left your lights on?

I'll also repeat, the person or people, that came to you with this proposal must be totally unqualified to be in the position they are in.

Sometimes people on condominium boards develop an attitude toward members who, for what ever reason, rent out rather than occupy their units. This, of course, is something you are entitled to do, but some people resent it. This situation sounds like you may experiencing such resentment. I know because I have been there. I have not only been on condominium boards but was president of the association. I have also been a landlord of condominium apartments.

That is your problem, not whether or not your toilet was leaking.

There's a easy way to check what unit's got a leak.
Shut off every unit at the house shut off and instruct all units not to use any water. Now check the meter. Is the little pointer turning? If s; the leak's in the water service line. If the pointer's still then have each unit , (one at a time) turn their unit on for one minute and then shut it off again, Do this with each unit until you see the pointer move. You have just located the source of the leak, Good luck, Tom

I'm outside of the age group that usually LOLs and BFFs but hkshroud's feedback did give me an OMG moment. That was brilliant. I checked the rules and regulations and it does clearly state that any individual meters are the responsibility of the unit owner. BUT, any shared meters (which this water meter is) is considered common and thus a shared expense. The president of the association is the neighbor who heard the water (lives below me) and he used to be in property management so the mgt company is basing their information on him and another neighbor who used to be in construction. They state it's not fair for the additional cost of the water to be borne by all the units. However, other than the last few days when he heard the water running, they speculate that it's my toilet that caused the spike in the water bill over the earlier months. When I asked how they really know it was entirely due to my toilet, the response is because of their backgrounds, they just know. Thanks speedball1 for information on checking for a running toilet. Thanks very much!

he used to be in property management so the mgt company is basing their information on him and another neighbor who used to be in construction.

First, this is not a management company decision. Second it doesn't matter what their back ground is. They may each have an opinion but that is all that it is, an opinion. Having a background in property management or having been in construction are not qualifications for having an informed opinion. Anyone with an informed opinion would be looking for the leak. Next billing cycle will almost assuredly show the same consumption.

they speculate
That is the correct word. It is speculation, just speculation.


Finally, it is not about what is "fair" or right. It is all about what is written in the condominium documents. All other owners share the risk of you having a leaky toilet, just as you share the risk of one of them having a leaky toilet. With 25 units there is probably at least one other toilet leaking. You and the rest of the owners are paying for that one, why shouldn't they pay for yours? All owners not only share in the cost of the water used they also share in the risk of a leak. This is called condominium living, you share certain cost and benefits.


Stop talking to them about this matter.

I am a Board President but am willing to say many board members can be full of themselves and have bad attitudes. You do not have to listen them, just read your written agreement (think you just did) and follow it. Even if your toilet leaked there is no proof how much water it leaked. One meter for every one, crazy, but you only owe your fair share. BTW most all of my members are actually very good right now.