Water, water everywhere: we spend £707 million a year fixing damage caused by our neighbours

As I watched the water creep across the kitchen floor, powerless to prevent a mini tsunami, I had an inkling of how it must feel to be the victim of flooding or burst pipes.

By the third time the water invaded my kitchen, I was at the end of my tether. It later transpired that the base of my washing machine had broken in two (apparently not an uncommon occurrence) hence the folly of replacing the washers and hoping for the best. While this was a problem fixable with a mop, a packet of kitchen roll and a new appliance, it brought to mind the multitude of horror stories told by friends and family over the years.

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Ross Clark

Britain is living beyond its means

From neighbours’ leaking toilets and radiators to dodgy showers and baths, many of us can recall water damage to our homes made through no fault of our own.