[zap100]

This is my vacation condo in Hawaii. I live in the East Coast.

I have a property management company in Hawaii and the other day I was notified that the downstairs unit has a small hole(like quarter size) in the bathroom ceiling.

The condo manager gave me a report that the area was dry. It has been vacant since the summer.
Last summer my unit had a bathroom overflow due to a pipe back up and I suspected that it had a water leak into the downstairs at that time..

But my PM told me to fix the leak and gave an estimate for $9,000.
They told me that the bathtub is an odd size and they do not sell the size anymore.
So I should change it into a shower.

I told PM that I will contact the insurance company and PM told me that they do not cover for leaks. But I contacted the insurance anyway.
The Insurance company want to break down the price and the estimate company can not do that and backed out.

PM is still insisting I should fix the leak.
Then I sent my plumber to inspect it. The downstairs hole was nicely patched and my plulmber said that it is totally dry. Downstairs RE agent sold the unit and patched it without realizing there was a leak.

Already 3 weeks and my PM is still asking me to fix the leak and has sent me another estimate by a different company. This time they opened the bathroom ceiling downstairs and took some pictures that the bottom of the bathtub is rusted. Again the estimate for removing the bathtub and putting a shower in is $7,500.

Is this only the way I can fix the leak?

The tenant has been using the shower for the last 3 weeks.

I told the PM that I am interested in fixing the leak but not renovating the bathroom.
But PM told me that I need to remove the bathtub because the bottom of the
Bathtub is rusted.

I don't know what to do or maybe I need to go there?

Do you think BBB will solve the problem?

I need help.

[speedball1]

How many licensed plumbers have told you they can't repair a simple leak and it will cost you nine grand to get it repaired? One? Two? None? If you haven't had an plumber in to check it out and give you a estimate to repair it do so ASAP and tell me what he says.

They told me that the bathtub is an odd size and they do not sell the size anymore.

measure your bathtub. If it measures 60 X 39" you have a standard sized tub. Your PM sounds greedy to me but your plumber sounds Ok. Get a plumber in to check for a leak and if he don't find one have him put it in writing and then rub the PMs nose in it, Good luck, Tom

[zap100]

Update

I went to Hawaii quick trip. I already came back from there.

First, I sent the general contractor the insurance co referred. He run the water from the above and it was dripping every 5 second near the connection area the drain pipe and bathtub. But he is not plumber so he told me to seek the answer from the plumber.

I sent plumber from the licence company. He showed up without flash right, no measuring tape, just a note pad on hand. He looked the bottom of the bathtub without even running the water. He looked and told me that the bathtub has the crack.

Three plumber said the same thing. But next thing I receive the estimate for bathtub renovation estimate.This time the estimate is $6500.
But the estimate does not say anything about the fixing the leak at all.

Yes, the bathtub bottom is rusted and I was told that it very common in Hawaii need to be replace the bathtub.

But I still think there is the way to fix the leak instead of replacing the bathtub.
I am not there so I can't do anything.

[speedball1]

But I still think there is the way to fix the leak instead of replacing the bathtub.

And unless your bathtub has a hole or has a break in it so do I.
I don't know but it sounds like your PM is in cahoots with the greedy plumbers that just wish to take advantage of and stick it to a absent owner. There are two types of plumbers running service calls. Repair plumbers and replacement plumbers. You got the wrong kind. Unless something's broken leaks can be repaired. Next time you get down there GET INVOLVED! Have them show you exactly what's leaking and the fitting it's leaking out of and report back to us. We'll take your plumber by the hand and walk him through the repair. You can us the big bucks saved to buy The Plumbing Page a group cruse to Hawaii. Good luck, Tom