Roof problems at leasehold property. What to do next?

MelaBella

Hi all,

I am purchasing the first floor flat at victoran house, leasehold (repairs shared between 2 flats only) and homebyuers report revealed damp issues and also the issues with the roof (broken and missig slates, missing roof flashing in some part), spoke to the surveyer he said the roof looks old and advsied to call the roofer, also spoke to damp specialist he also advised to call a roofer first as the damp is caused by roof problems anyway.

Called 2 roofers to come and see, one said possible to repair but will cost nearly 4k, but the new roof is more advisable. THe second roofer said repair will be waste of money as the roof suffers from nail sickness and the new roof will cost nearly 9k.:eek:. Got a bit of a shock as I didnt budget for roof replacement

No im confused what to do next if i re-negotiate the price, since it 50/50 repair shared with the other flat do i need to take off 4,5K?

G_M

1) responsibility for roof repair falls to the freeholder to agree/arrange
2) so no repair is possible till freeholder agrees
3) if/when roof is repaired, cost will be shared 50/50 between the leaseholder (I guess - depends on the lease) so you can only really re-negotiate price based on 50% of the cost
4) both quotes sound expensive to be honest
5) you could use the quotes to re-negotiate price - chances are the final cost will be less I suspect

katejo

MelaBella wrote: »

Hi all,

I am purchasing the first floor flat at victoran house, leasehold (repairs shared between 2 flats only) and homebyuers report revealed damp issues and also the issues with the roof (broken and missig slates, missing roof flashing in some part), spoke to the surveyer he said the roof looks old and advsied to call the roofer, also spoke to damp specialist he also advised to call a roofer first as the damp is caused by roof problems anyway.

Called 2 roofers to come and see, one said possible to repair but will cost nearly 4k, but the new roof is more advisable. THe second roofer said repair will be waste of money as the roof suffers from nail sickness and the new roof will cost nearly 9k.:eek:. Got a bit of a shock as I didnt budget for roof replacement

No im confused what to do next if i re-negotiate the price, since it 50/50 repair shared with the other flat do i need to take off 4,5K?

How far are you into the process of purchasing it? I was in a very similar position with my first purchase and ended up paying for the whole cost of the roof repair because the ground floor leaseholder refused to contribute anything and the work was urgent. (long story which I can't tell in full now as I am at work)
Can you still reduce your offer based on this?

katejo

G_M wrote: »

1) responsibility for roof repair falls to the freeholder to agree/arrange
2) so no repair is possible till freeholder agrees
3) if/when roof is repaired, cost will be shared 50/50 between the leaseholder (I guess - depends on the lease) so you can only really re-negotiate price based on 50% of the cost
4) both quotes sound expensive to be honest
5) you could use the quotes to re-negotiate price - chances are the final cost will be less I suspect

Not necessarily. In my case (also 2 flats only involved) the lease stated that the upper flat leaseholder was responsible but the ground floor leaseholder must pay half.

G_M

katejo wrote: »

Not necessarily. In my case (also 2 flats only involved) the lease stated that the upper flat leaseholder was responsible but the ground floor leaseholder must pay half.

Read my post :

3) if/when roof is repaired, cost will be shared 50/50 between the leaseholder (I guess - depends on the lease)

MelaBella

G_M wrote: »

1) responsibility for roof repair falls to the freeholder to agree/arrange
2) so no repair is possible till freeholder agrees
3) if/when roof is repaired, cost will be shared 50/50 between the leaseholder (I guess - depends on the lease) so you can only really re-negotiate price based on 50% of the cost
4) both quotes sound expensive to be honest
5) you could use the quotes to re-negotiate price - chances are the final cost will be less I suspect

yes as I mentioned according to the long lease we share the cost 50/50 and tenants responsible for arranging for these works and getting money out of the other tenant.

If i purchase the flat I probably need to call other roofers to compare the quotes, the roof is ageing so i dont want to spend money repairing it and then replace it in a few years, also its not my long-term home:p

I'm just worried what if it will be diffucult to agree on the costs with the other tenant? I am just in general paranoid about roof problems:)

MelaBella

katejo wrote: »

How far are you into the process of purchasing it? I was in a very similar position with my first purchase and ended up paying for the whole cost of the roof repair because the ground floor leaseholder refused to contribute anything and the work was urgent. (long story which I can't tell in full now as I am at work)
Can you still reduce your offer based on this?

How did they refuse?:eek: I would be more than interested to know about it and appreciate if you could post here the story or PM me:) I thought they are required by law to pay their half.

I havent excahnged yet im just in the process of arranging of all the numerious specialists to give me estimates.

I have a damp in the property coming from the leaking roof parts perhaps. so I guess at least the repairs in my case will be urgent, but as I said im not bothered to pay for repairs which cost 4k (2K my part) if later i need to replace the whole roof, its prbably better to replace the whole roof.

propertyman

G_M wrote: »

Read my post :

G_M the member's response was replying that you were explaining a situation where there is a freeholder who is responsible.

In their case, and it is not uncommon in 1 up 1 down flats, is that each flat is responsibly for it's half, and the other for repaying a half of the others expense. The freeholder may have very few, if any responsibilities.

MelaBella

propertyman wrote: »

G_M the member's response was replying that you were explaining a situation where there is a freeholder who is responsible.

In their case, and it is not uncommon in 1 up 1 down flats, is that each flat is responsibly for it's half, and the other for repaying a half of the others expense. The freeholder may have very few, if any responsibilities.

so would it be more difficult then to get the repayment from other tenant?

katejo

G_M wrote: »

Read my post :

I was referring to your statement about the freeholder arranging the work. That was not the case for me. The leaseholders had to organise it. The freeholder did nothing useful throughout my time there.

katejo

MelaBella wrote: »

How did they refuse?:eek: I would be more than interested to know about it and appreciate if you could post here the story or PM me:) I thought they are required by law to pay their half.

I havent excahnged yet im just in the process of arranging of all the numerious specialists to give me estimates.

I have a damp in the property coming from the leaking roof parts perhaps. so I guess at least the repairs in my case will be urgent, but as I said im not bothered to pay for repairs which cost 4k (2K my part) if later i need to replace the whole roof, its prbably better to replace the whole roof.

I will PM you after 5pm when I have finished work.