Who is responsible depends on where the leak is
When water appears where it should not, one of the first questions is who should deal with it. The answer depends on where the leak is, and whether you live in a landed house or a high-rise unit. This guide explains the usual split between Air Selangor, building management and the owner in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. It is general information, not legal advice. For the wider picture on leaks, see the Pipe Leaks section.
The basic rule: the meter is the boundary
Air Selangor supplies water to Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya. It is responsible for the pipes up to the customer’s meter. Pipes after the meter are the owner’s responsibility. To see whether water is passing through your meter at all, use the meter test in High Water Bill? How to Check Your Meter for a Hidden Leak.
That rule is simplest in a landed house with its own meter:
| Where the leak is | Usually responsible | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Public main on the road or verge | Air Selangor | Report it to Air Selangor |
| Between the main and your meter | Air Selangor | Report it to Air Selangor |
| At the meter itself | Air Selangor | Report it, do not tamper with the meter |
| After the meter, on your property | Owner | Arrange your own repair |
| Inside the house | Owner | Arrange your own repair |
How to tell which side of the meter the leak is on
- Find your stopcock, the valve on the house side of the meter.
- Close it.
- Watch the leak. If water keeps coming out, the leak is probably before the meter, on the supply side. If it stops, the leak is probably after the meter.
- Watch the meter too. With the stopcock closed, the meter should not move.
If the ground is wet along the route from the meter to your house and the meter moves when the stopcock is open but nothing is running, the leak is probably on your underground supply pipe. That is the owner’s side.
High-rise buildings: a different split
In condos, apartments and other strata buildings, the picture is different. Building management looks after the shared tanks and main pipes. The owner looks after the pipes inside their unit.
| Where the leak is | Usually responsible |
|---|---|
| Shared tanks on the roof or in a plant room | Building management |
| Main risers and pipes serving several units | Building management |
| Pipes inside your unit, after your unit meter or valve | Unit owner |
| Taps, toilets, heaters and fittings in your unit | Unit owner |
| Ceiling leak coming from the unit above | Depends on the cause, decided after inspection |
“Building management” means the Joint Management Body (JMB) or the Management Corporation (MC), depending on the stage of your development. Report shared-pipe leaks to them in writing.
A ceiling leak from the unit above follows its own process under the Strata Management Act 2013 and its 2015 regulations. Building management inspects and issues a Certificate of Inspection, known as Form 28, naming the cause and the party responsible. Our guide on the condo leak process and Form 28 walks through it, and the Condo and Strata Leaks section covers the wider rules.
How to report a leaking public pipe
If you see water leaking from a public pipe, a main on the road, or between the road and a meter:
- Report it to Air Selangor through its official channels, such as its customer service line, app or website.
- Give the exact location, a nearby house number or landmark, and how much water is escaping.
- Send a photo if you can.
- Keep the report number so you can follow up.
You do not need to be the owner of the nearest house to report a public leak.
What to say when you report a leak
Whoever you report to, a clear report gets a faster response. Include:
- Your name, address or unit number, and a phone number they can reach you on
- Where the leak is, as exactly as you can describe it
- When you first noticed it and whether it is getting worse
- Whether water is reaching electrics, the corridor or another unit
- Photos or a short video
Keep a copy of what you sent, or a note of the date, time and the name of the person you spoke to. If the leak is still there after a few days, follow up with the same details and your earlier reference.
Tenants
If you rent, report any leak to your landlord or agent first, in writing. Whether the landlord or the tenant pays for a repair usually depends on the cause and the tenancy agreement. The Landlords and Tenants section explains the common rules.
Quick decision guide
- Water on the road or verge, or before the meter: Air Selangor.
- Meter moves with everything closed, leak after the meter, landed house: your own plumber.
- Shared riser, roof tank or main pipe in a condo: building management.
- Leak inside your condo unit: your own plumber, following building house rules.
- Ceiling leak from the unit above: building management, then the Form 28 process.
Confirm before you act
These are the usual rules, but individual cases vary. Building house rules, the stage of a strata development and the facts of the leak all matter. Confirm with Air Selangor or your building management before you arrange work or refuse to pay for something. If you are in a dispute about who pays, the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) and the Strata Management Tribunal are the next steps for strata matters.