Neighbor problems, flat leaking garage roof

G-McDog

Hi,

We rent out our house and live in a flat, mainly due to financial issues. At our house we have a semi-detached garage which is not attached to the house. So our garage is attached to our neighbors garage.

They've (our neighbor) recently started complaining about about a leak from the garage roof. Which apparently is coming from our side. When I inspect our garage there wasn't any sign of a leak! However, when I wasn't there, our neighbor said he'd inspected our garage and spotted a leak coming from just above the separating wall and coming down the separating wall.

I'm going to inspect again on Saturday, but last time there was no sign. The other thing is, our roof is recently (last 5 years) done, where as their's is many years old. Theirs has loads of moss growing on it. It's in a bit of a state! I'm concerned he's trying to get the garage roof replaced and us to pay for half of it! But I feel like ours doesn't need it. Also, I'm fairly strapped for cash at the moment, so not sure I can really afford a full replacement!! What is my best course of action?

Sorry if I've not explained that particularly well.

Oh also, he believes water has got under the roof felt and frozen causing it to leak! Is that possible?

G-McDog

G-McDog wrote: »

Hi,

We rent out our house and live in a flat, mainly due to financial issues. At our house we have a semi-detached garage which is not attached to the house. So our garage is attached to our neighbors garage.

They've (our neighbor) recently started complaining about about a leak from the garage roof. Which apparently is coming from our side. When I inspect our garage there wasn't any sign of a leak! However, when I wasn't there, our neighbor said he'd inspected our garage and spotted a leak coming from just above the separating wall and coming down the separating wall.

I'm going to inspect again on Saturday, but last time there was no sign. The other thing is, our roof is recently (last 5 years) done, where as their's is many years old. Theirs has loads of moss growing on it. It's in a bit of a state! I'm concerned he's trying to get the garage roof replaced and us to pay for half of it! But I feel like ours doesn't need it. Also, I'm fairly strapped for cash at the moment, so not sure I can really afford a full replacement!! What is my best course of action?

Sorry if I've not explained that particularly well.

Oh also, he believes water has got under the roof felt and frozen causing it to leak! Is that possible?

Quick question, if it's just leaking at the edge on a join is it possible to just do a patch? Is that the best option? Especially if we don't want to replace the whole thing?

27col

I would suggest that you tell him to get his part re-roofed and after that, see if there is a problem from your side. He is quite obviously trying it on.

JustinR1979

America may have different rules and regs on this than the UK.

G-McDog

JustinR1979 wrote: »

America may have different rules and regs on this than the UK.

I'm in the UK. What are the regs on this?

I thought the following would be a good game plan... what do you think?

I'm going to head up to the house this afternoon to see if I can spot this leak. If there is a leak, then I'll get in my own roofer to identify where the leak is coming from and see what he advises. Then go from there. I'm hoping an easy patch job will get it done! Maybe just re-seal the bit that has come up. I'm also taking a camera to take pictures!!!

dave88uk

It depends on the relationship that you have with your neighbour.

I have a great relationship with my neighbour, in a similar situation. However, I accept that the leak is on my side (but actually only affects me). To give the quote (based on a roof around 12m x 3m I'm looking at £250. This is based on a felt based material with adhesive (I'll get the exacts for you if you wish)

If you have a good relationship I'd suggest that you split the cost, have a BBQ at the same time, social occasion etc when the summer comes.

As people say above I think it could be a case of your neighbour trying it on.

If you don't have a good relationship/you don't care about it then I'd invite him to get the advice of an independent surveyor (at his cost). Explain your reasoning for doing this of course.

G-McDog

dave88uk wrote: »

It depends on the relationship that you have with your neighbour.

I have a great relationship with my neighbour, in a similar situation. However, I accept that the leak is on my side (but actually only affects me). To give the quote (based on a roof around 12m x 3m I'm looking at £250. This is based on a felt based material with adhesive (I'll get the exacts for you if you wish)

If you have a good relationship I'd suggest that you split the cost, have a BBQ at the same time, social occasion etc when the summer comes.

As people say above I think it could be a case of your neighbour trying it on.

If you don't have a good relationship/you don't care about it then I'd invite him to get the advice of an independent surveyor (at his cost). Explain your reasoning for doing this of course.

I went round. Had a look and there wasn't any water on my side. I threw a bucket of water on the roof. Then we went and had a look in his garage and it was pouring through his roof, and nothing on mine. He then said he'll get a roofer to have a look and then let me know. I haven't heard anything from him. I would put a picture up of the two roofs, but I have no idea how to.

loracan1

Which roof did you throw the water on and if it was yours did it run onto his roof before coming through?

G-McDog

loracan1 wrote: »

Which roof did you throw the water on and if it was yours did it run onto his roof before coming through?

I threw some onto mine, then I threw some onto his. Seemed like it started pouring through when I threw it onto his. From looking at his garage roof, he has a load of brown moss right next to where the water was pouring into his garage.

I've still not heard anything from him. So will see what develops. Hopefully my side is ok, and he get's his fixed and it's all fine. He did say, even though water is coming through to his side, the leak could be anywhere. Which is fair. So it's not conclusive evidence. It's a shame I can't add the picture for you to see.

G-McDog

Right... so here's the outcome.

It was the neighbors side that was leaking. So he's going to get his side redone.

However, he got 3 quotes, and each roofer commented on how badly our side had been done. They all said it looks like it'd been done by an amateur and the quality was very poor. This I can believe, as the previous owner of the house was a builder, who did fixes himself. We've found a few issues in the house where he'd done a botch job to fix things. Plumbing was really poor, and some electrics were a bit of a joke (my brother in law is a sparky!). So I could understand he did the garage roof himself, and it wasn't the best quality.

So, one last question: The roofer he decided to go with said that he would be willing to do our roof also for £800. So rather than just do his side, he'll do both and it'll cost us £800. Is that a decent price? I think that's just to replace the felt rather than the wooden boards. Do you think I should go for it? I should say, I live in North London, Enfield way!

robotrobo

it sounds like your as green as the garage roof!!