What's happening?

Water is coming in

When water shows up where it shouldn't, two questions arrive together: how do I stop this, and who pays for it. Deal with them in that order. Start with the first-hour answer if anything is dripping now.

• Water is coming through my ceiling. What do I do first?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: Nobody settles that in the first hour. Later it turns on where the water started, your lease or declaration and the policies involved, so for now just report it and record it.
• Water came through my condo ceiling from upstairs. Who pays?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: Often several parties share it. Your own unit policy is the usual first call, and the source, any negligence, your declaration and state law decide what shifts to a neighbor or the association.
• I rent, and water came through the ceiling. Who pays for my things?You rent: start with your landlordWho pays, usually: Your own renters insurance usually pays for your belongings, because a landlord's policy doesn't cover them. The landlord generally handles the building, under your lease and state law.
• My unit leaked into the one below. Am I responsible?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: Not automatically you. The source, any negligence, your declaration or lease and state law decide it, and your liability cover is usually where any claim against you lands.
• There's a wet spot on a wall between units. Whose pipe is it?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: It depends on what the pipe serves. Shared lines are usually the association's, one-unit lines vary by declaration, and rentals generally go through the landlord, so find the source before anyone assigns the bill.
• There's a brown stain on my ceiling, but nothing is dripping. Does it matter?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: Reporting it is free. Any later repair usually follows the source: the landlord for a rental, and for a condo, whoever your declaration assigns that line or roof to, or the association for shared lines.
• The leak stopped. How fast does everything have to dry?Not clear yetWho pays, usually: Drying usually follows whoever is responsible for the wet material: your insurer or you for belongings, the landlord for a rental's structure, and in condos the declaration and master policy, so ask early.
• A fire sprinkler is dripping in my apartment. What can I do?Probably the association'sWho pays, usually: The building or association usually arranges and pays for sprinkler repairs, since the system protects everyone, though your declaration or lease and any insurance claim settle the rest, including damage to your things.