I have just bought my first flat and its currently being renovated. Upstairs soil pipe runs down my wall and into the ground (only discovered when the boxing in was removed) but it is leaking is this my responsibility to fix?
Thank You.

What country is this (its important as this is an international site)... I assume UK or Australia due to the use of the term "Flat". If it was the USA it would be the responsibility of the owner upstairs as well as for any and all damages... unless it was a common drain where the Condominium would be responsible. But outside the USA the laws might be different.

Most likely. Hidden defects are typically not covered in an inspection and unless there was obvious water leakage before would not have been discovered.

Moredetails please. Material of soil pipe?
Is there another flat over yours?
Is the leak in your flat or running down the pipe from above?
Can you furinsh more information?
Back to you Tom

Hi
Thanks for the replies, I live in the UK, there is a flat above me I'm ground floor and theirs is first floor, it looks like upstairs soil pipe runs from their toilet down my bathroom wall (which is boxed in, or was :) mine isn't connected as my toilet goes straight into the main drain in the ground. The pipe looks to have been leaking for a while as the ground is soaking wet, I'm not sure of the matériel it just looks plastic to me, the pipe is connected to a collar in the ground but is wobbling around as if something has become un-attached, excuse the use of non technical phrases I know nothing about plumbing at all.

is wobbling around as if something has become un-attached, Wobbling where? Whereit goes into the ground?
This leak. Is the water coming dowen from abpve your flat>
Is there a owners association?
Let me know, Tom

Hi Tom
Yes where it goes into the ground & no there isn't an owners association unfortunately, is this kind of problem fixable?

is this kind of problem fixable? EVERY plumbing problem's fixable, however you haven't told me if the water's running down the pipe into your flat or if the leak's in your flat and running into the grpond. I can tell you that the wobbly pipe outside is considdered a comon area and that repair cost should be the responsibility of all the owners in the building. I'm trying to locate the source of your leak, One more time. Does it leak down from up above? Is the pipe inside or outside your flat? Is the pipe white or black plastic? Back to you. Tom

The waste pipe runs down the wall on the inside which was boxed in with plasterboard. The water doesn't run down the pipe but come out of the bottom as it isn't attached to the collar, looks like its been leaking for a long while floor is soaking wet. The pipe is connected to the upstairs toilet and runs straight into the main drain, my main issue is that I have just had my walls re-tiled so I don't really want to take it all off.
Amy.

Hi Amy, if the leak doesn't begin from above why are you worried about your plasterboard? Is there something I'm missing? If all the pipe drain is your neighbor then the responsibilities the it's your neighbors responsibility to have the leak repaired. Good luck Tom