[paulyyervis]

I live in a condo and I occupy one floor above the downstairs neighbor. She has constantly started arguments with me for no reason, sending me really erratic emails about various things, threatening to take away my property in emails as well, opening my mail, crazy stuff. We have tried to ignore her before, tried calling the police (they won't deal with it), and tried talking with the building management. I am really at my wits end, the building management is weirdly sympathetic to her.

The recent problem started when she told everyone she can hear water in her walls. Many people on her floor tried to help her and went to listen. At first no one could hear anything, she insisted. One person said the only thing he could hear was a very very faint ticking mechanical sound. I couldn't hear anything. We tried to calmly reason with her and tell her this is probably just pipes contracting and expanding and hitting something (I'm not familiar with these issues but that is what everyone says). If she wasn't attaching herself to the wall every day, she would not hear this sound. One day I was in the elevator and someone from the building management was in the elevator and strongly told me to fix my toilet as that was causing the her "water sound." I told him my toilet is completely fine and (why toilet?) that we couldn't hear water sound when the other people on her floor and I went to hear. The management guy just repeated I have to fix everything and that they talked to someone who said I had to fix it as well. From what I know, no one went into her house to do any type of plumbing check (no walls were removed to check the pipes, no evidence of leaking, not tests were run), just someone knew someone who said something and I now have to fix?

I ignore this and this neighbor is telling everyone that now the sound is 24/7 and more water is in her wall. She has no leak or indications of moisture and I really don't understand why my toilet is involved. Because of our history, I really don't know if she is serious or if she is trying to harass me again.

1. The only details I know is that it started with very soft ticking sound. Now she says it is water dripping on and on. Should I be worried that this may be a leak? Or could this be contraction/expansion.

2. What does this have to do with my toilet? If I cannot see or hear anything wrong with my toilet, still toilet fault?

3. They demand I fix with the same "plumber" they asked for advice , must I if they cannot provide me evidence that I or the toilet are causing this?

4. Let's say it is somewhere inside the pipes, since the pipes run downward, if it is just her joint with the sound, why am I still responsible?

5. If I continue to ignore this because they just demand me to do things without giving me evidence as to why I am responsible, can they sue me?

6. If I give in and fix, what if after the fix things get worse or even start other issues in her house? Would not this be a cycle?

This is my first time living alone and her crazy antics are just escalating. I really don't want more trouble but I cannot fix something that I cannot determine is my fault, nor do I want to spend money. I do not have the money to move so I am stuck here.

Thanks in advance.

[hkstroud]

I live in a condo

I assume you are the owner.

She has constantly started arguments with

Do not talk to her. Do not even acknowledge her presence. If she persist get a restraining order.

threatening to take away my property

No one other than a mortgage company for non payment or the government for non payment of taxes can do that.

opening my mail,

Can you prove that? That is a federal crime. How does she get access to your mail? Contact the post office.

someone from the building management

management guy just repeated I have to fix

These people have no authority. Jump down their throat and let them know that you don't work for them, they work for you.

They demand I fix with the same "plumber"

That is ridiculous. The condominium association, through the board of directors, could demand that you make repairs if your toilet is damaging condo property. But first it have to show your toilet is the cause. That for all practical purposes is impossible, if for no other reason, no damage is occurring. They may be able to require to make repairs if you toilet is leaking and using excessive water. Again something they would have to prove. Sounds like you are talking to the maintenance personnel. Again, let them know who works for who. If you do find something wrong, no can tell you who to hire to fix it.

Noise can travel great distances in pipe, noise could be coming from anywhere. Under certain circumstance a leaking toilet can cause a dripping noise but it is rare.

If you want to be certain of your position, replace the flapper in the toilet. This is something you can easily do yourself or have a handyman do it for you (should be about $35).

PS.
I know your position. I once purchase a condo unit and had a neighbor like yours. I put my offer in for a specific type of unit and waited for one to become available. She was on the waiting list behind me. I purchased the unit and then rented it out. She didn't like that. She then tried to annoy me with complaints about noise, (which didn't exist). Even had someone claiming to be her lawyer call me. When I finished with him, he didn't call again and I never heard from her again.