Dublin City Council Insurer Denies Liability for €20k Tenant Water Damage
Monday 7 September 2026
A Dublin homeowner has been left facing over €20,000 in repair costs after Dublin City Council's insurer denied liability for water damage originating from a council-owned apartment above.
Dublin City Council's insurer has denied liability for over €20,000 in water damage caused to a private home by a council-owned apartment.
The incident occurred in September 2024 at Cedar Wood in the west Dublin suburb of Cherry Orchard. A homeowner, who purchased his home in 2020 directly beneath a Dublin City Council-owned apartment, reported that water began cascading into his residence from above.
The water ingress was subsequently linked to an air-locked tap that had been left running in the council unit above while the tenants were away. Because the sink was also blocked, the water overflowed and leaked into the property below for approximately 40 minutes before the occupants returned.
An independent assessment valued the physical damage at €20,809. The required works include specialist drying, repairs to the bathroom, plastering of damaged walls and stairs, and a full electrical inspection and replacement.
However, the local authority's insurer has denied liability for the costs, asserting that responsibility for the incident rests with the council tenant rather than the council itself. This leaves the private homeowner in a position of resolving the costs of the repairs independently.