The pipe thing happened to me last week! - Except it was in my bathroom.
Lucky for me the apartments take care of any repairs or cleaning. Unlucky for everyone is the pipe flooded my bathroom, and the 2 apartments below mine as well.
For the commission, really, if you've been credible then when something does happen people will believe you're being honest as to why the commission wasn't sent out.
Bad things (can) happen to good people.
Bad people make hollow excuses.