House Roof Colour Change without consent

Grenage

Arthritic_Toe wrote: »

Of course its not purely cosmetic. Its not in any way functional ??? The roof isn't functional? It keeps the rain out which is quite an important function, being a house n all.

They've pulled a fast one here - slate is a more expensive covering and they've switched to tiles to do it on the cheap.

Don't be a pedant; both coverings will do the same job just as well.

Arthritic_Toe

Grenage wrote: »

Don't be a pedant; both coverings will do the same job just as well.

So if you thought were buying a thatched cottage, but it turned out to be concrete tiles, you'd regard that as fine because its just a cosmetic change? After all, the concrete tiles will do the job just as well. The roof covering changes the whole character of the building.

AdrianC

Arthritic_Toe wrote: »

So if you thought were buying a thatched cottage, but it turned out to be concrete tiles, you'd regard that as fine because its just a cosmetic change? After all, the concrete tiles will do the job just as well. The roof covering changes the whole character of the building.

There is a functional difference between thatching and tiles - not least that thatching has to be regularly replaced, as well as the very tangible difference it makes to buildings insurance premiums. There are also structural differences between the roof timbers required.

That does not apply to the difference between slates and mendips.

AdrianC

Arthritic_Toe wrote: »

Of course its not purely cosmetic. Its not in any way functional ??? The roof isn't functional? It keeps the rain out which is quite an important function, being a house n all.

So which one doesn't do that? Simple answer - they both do. Equally effectively. No functional difference.

They've pulled a fast one here - slate is a more expensive covering and they've switched to tiles to do it on the cheap.

I very much doubt we were talking about real slate...

Grenage

I'm reasonably sure that the difference between a thatched roof and modern concrete tiles is somewhat larger than the difference between modern concrete tiles and modern synthetic slate.

I imagine this isn't a cottage in a picturesque village.

BlueIsTheColour

Usually on new builds all building materials including roofing have to be agreed with the planners & then if builder wants to change they have to get approval. Have you checked the planning info on the council website?

I bought a new build 2 years ago & all the marketing info said my house was made of brick, however the planning documents said it was stone, we have a stone house... Perhaps the sales person who went through the house with you was unaware, as ours was, we told her it was stone, she called the site manager to check because she didn't believe us.

The planning documents should help, either way...

IGetMoney

AFF8879 wrote: »

I'm curious as to why the red roof tiles were installed to begin with. Were they a) chosen by the purchaser of the adjoining house - in which case, I'd question why preference was given to that person over you, or b) chosen by the developer - and then my question would be why a choice was even offered to begin with.

The building site originally spec'd the adjoining properties with the two different colours. So the neighbours have what they were expecting as per the plans (Red Mendip). There was no choice given

BlueIsTheColour wrote: »

Usually on new builds all building materials including roofing have to be agreed with the planners & then if builder wants to change they have to get approval. Have you checked the planning info on the council website?

I bought a new build 2 years ago & all the marketing info said my house was made of brick, however the planning documents said it was stone, we have a stone house... Perhaps the sales person who went through the house with you was unaware, as ours was, we told her it was stone, she called the site manager to check because she didn't believe us.

The planning documents should help, either way...

Where do I find the planning info? This house is on the Monksmoor Fallowfields Crest Nicholson site in Daventry.



They have now offered £1000 gesture of good will or to pull out of the house sale.... unfortunately I'm not in the position to do the latter or else I'd seriously consider it.

LittleMax

IGetMoney wrote: »

Where do I find the planning info? This house is on the Monksmoor Fallowfields Crest Nicholson site in Daventry.

https://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/living/planning-and-building-control/search-comment-planning/

Edit - They submitted this for roof materials in 2015

amended to this 13/07/16 - amendments approved 20/07/16.

Full list of documents are here

AdrianC

LittleMax wrote: »

Edit - They submitted this for roof materials in 2015

amended to this 13/07/16 - amendments approved 20/07/16.

Which, rather unsurprisingly, doesn't show a single pair of semis with different materials on each end.

I see a building changing in the bottom left, and about three buildings changing roof - all FROM red, to either grey or brown. Not one changing TO red.

Oh, and googling the roofing materials named on those docs shows that the mendip is actually the slightly more expensive option. Not much in it, though. One online supplier lists them as £2.48 each for the plain "slate" in either colourway, £2.59 each for the mendip. Both are from the same manufacturer.

LittleMax

Hmmm - just had a look at the builders website and seems from their site plan that they may still be building phase 1

In which case planning documents are here

Materials Schedule dated 01/11/2012.

There do not seem to be any amendments published - however the decision notice refers in condition 3 to "Materials schedule dated 21/2/13 and received on 13 March 2013" So it looks like there was an amended document submitted which is not uploaded to the website - however as you have exchanged this should be in your searches.