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Flood at Mosler Lofts!

May 29, 2011 By 10 Comments

Two weeks ago a Mosler Lofts resident got home to their seventh floor unit Saturday night, started drawing a bath and promptly fell asleep. At 6 am on Sunday a neighboring resident awoke to find water flooding their place.

Leaving a bathtub running all night flooded the stack immediately below the unit, the stacks adjoining that stack and the stacks adjoining those. One ceiling collapsed! Sounds like more than 30 units have been affected.

Two weeks later, appliances have been ripped out, units are being gutted and a lot of people have had to find new homes for the next couple months.

Word is that the HOA’s policy is covering the damage to the units and that the flooder will be on the hook for the $10,000 deductible.

I don’t have any photos yet so if anyone has some, send them in!

Of course this isn’t Mosler Lofts first flood. Shortly after opening the building was vandalized and flooded.

I wonder how common accidental flooding is for condos and apartments? I heard that shortly after opening Noma had a similar water event.

Filed Under: Mosler Lofts Views: 2,258
About Matt

Matt , Urbnlivn's publisher, has a love for lofts with industrial features and new construction condos that is only eclipsed by his passion for outdoor sports and urban living. Phrases such as “polished concrete” and “exposed brick” are music to his ears. You can also find Matt on Twitter or skiing.

  • Patrick

    Wow, that owner must have a lot of people angry at him/her now. I wonder why the tub’s overflow drain wasn’t functioning. Or maybe Mosler has tubs without emergency overflows? (which would seem really odd)
    I have water alarms on my hot water heater and my kegerator. Water alarms cost only $15 or so, and are well worth the insurance to get fast notice of a water leak. 

  • phil

    When I lived in an apartment in Belltown, somebody knocked off a sprinkler head in their unit (playing with a basketball I believe), which flooded out the unit below.  The folks in the unit below had to move out while their unit was completely gutted.

    Sounds like the plumbing at Mosler Lofts has some issues.

  • phil

    When I lived in an apartment in Belltown, somebody knocked off a sprinkler head in their unit (playing with a basketball I believe), which flooded out the unit below.  The folks in the unit below had to move out while their unit was completely gutted.

    Sounds like the plumbing at Mosler Lofts has some issues.

  • In Hot Water

    The owner who flooded the other units should take a bath financially. The HOA dues paid by the community should not be used to pay for such negligent action.

    Many property owners will be even further underwater when people refuse to buy because of possible mold problem from the previous floods.

  • Chris

    If I’m reading the post properly the person that fell asleep will be responsible for the deductible, but the HOA’s insurance will be covering the rest. So assuming the rates don’t go up because of the claim, the HOA has no extra expense.

  • Cam

    The HOA master policy won’t cover personal property losses in units below, or loss of use if the residents have to move out during repairs. Those folks will need to make a claim on their own unit owners insurance policy (assuming they have one– every condo owner should, and renters need a renters insurance policy for the same reason). 

  • phil

    Matt & Katrina,  how about a post on insurance – HOA and owners?  I’m sure you know somebody in the industry who could help.

  • http://www.thriveseattle.com Michael Doyle

    Matt,
    I live at Mosler and (full disclosure) have represented Sellers and Buyers there. A few facts/points/thoughts:
    -Some of the owners/renters who have to move out did not have any insurance or insurance sufficient to handle the cost of replacing personal items or moving out for a period of time. Tragedy. I’m glad to post a suggestion for a condo-centric insurance agent. Unfortunately, the Master Policy could very easily see an increase in premium.
    -It’ll be interesting to see how owners hoping to rent their property at Mosler will be effected. Their was already a waiting list, and this may complicate matters.
    -Most of those emergency relief valves in tubs and sinks are not designed to handle a continuous stream of a fully open valve (even one in a Green building!)
    -The facilities staff at Mosler has done a great job dealing with all this.

  • http://www.thriveseattle.com Michael Doyle

    Matt,
    I live at Mosler and (full disclosure) have represented Sellers and Buyers there. A few facts/points/thoughts:
    -Some of the owners/renters who have to move out did not have any insurance or insurance sufficient to handle the cost of replacing personal items or moving out for a period of time. Tragedy. I’m glad to post a suggestion for a condo-centric insurance agent. Unfortunately, the Master Policy could very easily see an increase in premium.
    -It’ll be interesting to see how owners hoping to rent their property at Mosler will be effected. Their was already a waiting list, and this may complicate matters.
    -Most of those emergency relief valves in tubs and sinks are not designed to handle a continuous stream of a fully open valve (even one in a Green building!)
    -The facilities staff at Mosler has done a great job dealing with all this.

  • Cam

    Full disclosure — I’ve been managing condominium associations since 1985. Accidental flooding is all too common in condos. I can’t speak to apartments but expect it is much the same  Sometimes it’s a plumbing issue but more often than not, a user or owner maintenance issue.  I’d be happy to chime in with an experienced insurance broker to provide some information for a post on what an HOA policy covers vs. unitowners or rental insurance.