Found hole in roof just before purchase

Daniel01

Hi,

I've been reading this forum fo ages, but I finally need to ask a question, hope you can help.

I am about to buy a flat (top floor - 2nd floor) which is leasehold, with the exchange being soon. A homebuyers survey didn't pick up anything. I decided to take another look, and opened the loft hatch, to find daylight straight above me! The hole is approximately 2 cm * 8 cm directly at the apex of the roof (maybe one of the apex tiles slid across a bit or something).

I have sent photos to the surveyor to get his opinion, although he initially seemed to indicate it wasn't a big deal.

What do you all think? The roof is the management company's responsibility, but I don't want to buy a flat and have problems later down the line with huge increases in service charge etc for fixing the problem. He also indicated that there was a snowball's chance of actually getting the management company to fix it once bought, as they might not be able to justify the increased service charge or something.

Thanks,

Daniel.

RLH33

Personally I wouldn't exchange until the problem is sorted, if you exchange then it becomes your problem - it is better to make it the sellers problem.

I would have said a hole in the roof is a pretty big deal, especially as you are in the top floor flat - you are the first to be affected if rain starts coming in.

Put the onus back on the seller to get this sorted out asap and definitely before you exchange.

AK2UK

I agree with RLH. Don't go through with the exchange until the seller sorts out the problem and the roof is properly repaired. If the seller refuses, then walk away from the potential nightmare.

G_M

walk away? When it might just be a single slipped tile that would cost £50 or less to get a roofer to fix? (My local chap would do it for £20)

Without knowing what's involved you can't decide what action to take.

It also depends on the lease. Who is the mgmt company? Are they efficient? Is there a contingency fund? Was the roof done recently and still under a guarantee? Does liability fall on the top flat leaseholder alone or shared between all leaseholders? Do the leaseholders work well together or fight over every penny?

And what makes the surveyor say:"they might not be able to justify the increased service charge or something." Does he know the mangemnt company and answers to all the Qs above?

clutton_2

if it is a couple of slipped tiles.. its no big deal... get it checked out by a roofer....

maninthestreet

If it's a ridge tile that has loosened and slipped a bit, or even been ripped off completely by strong winds, this should be visible from the street - is it??

poppysarah

Poor management costs more in the end.

It's rained here almost constantly for a fortnight. How long a tile has been missing is important - has timber got soaked?

Daniel01

Hi,

Thank you all for your responses. How long the tile has been missing for is definitely a concern - whether any of the insulation is wet, or any of the timber etc.

I will contact my solicitor today, and make sure it's sorted (regardless of how big or small the cost!) before we move in. I think the surveyor should also have some responsibility for missing something like this, so I will try and obtain compensation through that.

I will probably have to take another look for myself and check if anything is damp! I will update as I go along - in case it helps anyone else.

Thanks again for the replies, suggestions are still welcome.

neha1986

I will suggest that won't exchange until the problem is sorted.
if you exchange then it becomes your problem - it is better to make it the sellers problem. since you are in the top floor ,it is big deal.
In rainy season you will suffer lot of problem.

G_M

Since the surveyor has missed this why not request (instruct?) him to go back and give you a report on the extent of the roofing problem and the extent of any consequential damage?