Help Landlord question about ongoing leak

[Carol Burns]

I got a text from my tenant today about a leak and a text from 3 days ago came through at the same time, also about the leak.  Apparently the text didn't go through 3 days ago.  He did not try to contact me further, such as additional texts or phone calls.  So we get over there today, and the floors are soft and rotting, carpet ruined, black under the sink, obviously been going on for a while.  Major repair now.  My question is, should I have expected him to see and report this problem way before Tuesday?  And then should I have expected him to continue to try to contact me after he didn't hear back from me Tuesday?  Instead he just let it go on for 3 more days before trying to contact me again.  Any advice would be appreciated!

[Michael King]

Yes the trouble with texting but people persist with it; once you hit send you feel like you've done your job and delivered the message. 

You said the leak's under a sink, but the carpet's wet. I gather the moisture is immediately obvious to anyone that enters that room? Or is it under a cupboard and has spread to the carpet next to it? Trying to figure out whether the tenant should have reasonably known about the leak or not, and whether they knew of the obligation to let you know immediately.

Either way, you've got work to do and that sucks.