A hidden leak rarely announces itself directly. It shows as a damp patch that keeps growing, paint bubbling off a wall, mould returning no matter how often it is cleaned, or a mysteriously high water bill. In Vlorë's older centre, corroded galvanised pipes inside walls are the usual source; in newer buildings, poorly crimped joints from rushed construction are just as common.
For owners abroad the hidden leak is especially dangerous: it can run for months between visits, and the first person to notice is often the downstairs neighbour. By then the repair includes their ceiling too. An unexplained bill or a damp smell when you open the flat is the moment to call — not the next visit.