Roof damage question

ryan92

We live in a bottom floor flat ( it's a house with 4 in a block ; so 2 houses on the first floor, 2 on the bottom floor) - not sure if 4 in a block is the correct technical term.

Anyway, today's storm brought a big of damage and some of the slates have fallen off the roof. The neighbour above us came and spoke to us tonight and asked that we pay in 50% of the total bill.

Are we actually liable for the room considering we live in the bottom floor house? It's not just that, it's also the fact they are only considering getting it sorted through a third party and not through their insurance so it's obviously going to be costly.

Any advice will be appreciated

marleyboy

I wouldn't, if it does not affect my own property I would advise they contact their insurance company to get it sorted. I bet if there was a major flood in your kitchen, they would say likewise.

Torry_Quine

Really you should know these things before the problem happens.

That said though I live in a four in a block on the ground floor lke you and yes I am responsible for the roof in the same way as my upstairs neighbour is for the drains etc.

However there's nothing wrong with you going through your insurance

FlameCloud

You need to read your lease and find out the repairing responsibilities. Leases can range from the top flat (s) being responsible for the roof, with the bottom flat (s) being responsible for the foundations, to all bills split 50%, to anything in between. If your lease says that you are responsible, you will need to pay it - you do benefit from the roof.

PasturesNew

FlameCloud wrote: »

You need to read your lease and find out the repairing responsibilities. Leases can range from the top flat (s) being responsible for the roof, with the bottom flat (s) being responsible for the foundations, to all bills split 50%, to anything in between. If your lease says that you are responsible, you will need to pay it - you do benefit from the roof.

This is correct. You need to read your lease; what happens in one block of flats is different to what happens in others.

Beyond that, it's then up to the management company to get involved in the work probably - not the flat owner above you. Of course, you might be shared freeholders, or run the management company yourself.

So - you now need to get up to speed with these issues when owning/living in a flat.

katejo

ryan92 wrote: »

We live in a bottom floor flat ( it's a house with 4 in a block ; so 2 houses on the first floor, 2 on the bottom floor) - not sure if 4 in a block is the correct technical term.

Anyway, today's storm brought a big of damage and some of the slates have fallen off the roof. The neighbour above us came and spoke to us tonight and asked that we pay in 50% of the total bill.

Are we actually liable for the room considering we live in the bottom floor house? It's not just that, it's also the fact they are only considering getting it sorted through a third party and not through their insurance so it's obviously going to be costly.

Any advice will be appreciated

When I had a first floor leasehold maisonette, I was responsible for organising roof repairs while the leaseholder in the ground floor flat had to arrange repairs to the lower part of the building. We needed a major roof replacement but she refused point blank. The work was urgent. Obviously I don't know all your details or what it says in your lease but it might be unreasonable to refuse to pay your share.