We live in a basement apartment. Two weeks ago, the person above us had a toilet overflow, which leaked into our entryway through a light fixture in the ceiling. We cleaned out the light fixture and the stone floor under the leak, but since then there has been a damp, musty smell in the room. We can't tell where it's originating from exactly, but we suspect the some of the overflow might have stayed in the ceiling and be causing the smell.
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I would contact the Manager, and tell them were the leak was, because it sounds like you have standing moisture/water in there=MILDEW!! If you have a baby or respiratory problems, that is a bad thing to let go.
There is still moisture in the ceiling. To properly repair, a portion of it should be removed around the light fixture and where the paint problem is showing. Inspecting there should determine if additional should also be removed.
It's got to be completely dried out - it's even possible that insulation might be there, not so much for heat loss but for sound control and if so, that will need to removed. I notice you're in Brookline - this is a much more difficult proposition if the building has plaster and lath as many older homes/apartments do.
It all comes out the same-contact the landlord if you're renting. If not, I hope one of you is very handy! Remaining moisture will continue to smell musty, blister paint, and bulge plaster/drywall until the moisture has escaped. The paint blisters indicate the problem. The fact that it dripped out the light fixture is not material, that's just where the water found a "downhill" to run out. The leak may have been far from that point.
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