Problems with joint flat roof wi next door leaking

milliemonster

Not sure if this is in the right place but looking for some advice. We own our semi. Next door rent from council, at the back of our houses is a joint ground floor extension with a flat roof, this is the bathroom on their side on ours it is utility room (we've had a 2 storey side extension with bathroom now upstairs)

Last week we noticed the utility room roof was leaking when it rained. Hubby has looked outside and the roof has degraded around the front edge, insurance won't touch it as its wear and tear, that's fine, assessor States the whole roof needs replacing as over next doors the felt is completely off.

This is where the problem lies, we have spoken to next door who have said the council have been out before and done the odd patch repair, we cannot replace half a roof as it will never be fully waterproof, but the council will only continue to do patch repairs on their side (she has rung them) I'm not prepared to pay for the full roof replaced as I don't see why I should pay for next doors half, but would be prepared to go halves with the council if they would consider replacing the full roof (they won't)

What do I do now? We currently have a tarpaulin over it to stop it leaking!

phil24_7

Write to the housing association that looks after the property stating that a leak in the roof is causing damage to your property and needs to be replaced to stop further damage.

Take plenty of photos of the damage, inside and out, as well as inside the neighbours if they will let you. Keep hard copies and digital backups of these as well as any correspondence with them.

Send them a copy of your assessors report too as this is a professional/specialist opinion and will carry more weight than yours alone.

FreeBear

Got legal cover on your household insurance ?

The threat of court action may focus the HA's attention and get them to undertake a full repair.

brightontraveller

FreeBear wrote: »

Got legal cover on your household insurance ?

The threat of court action may focus the HA's attention and get them to undertake a full repair.

Legal threats might work with neighbors etc HA will be water of ducks back most have there own legal teams and without all the correct info ,paperwork , reports etc they'll know your a fool and take advantage of that :rotfl:
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The insurance assessor report is irrelevant might be good to mop up water that’s about it ? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]You will need independent expert report preferably one that your HA acknowledges then pictures, statements, record all dates times etc, [/FONT][FONT=&quot]can be long slow process.
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missile

I would suspect the cost for both roofs will not be significantly more than a repair to half the roof. Getting a surveyors report, then taking council to court, will be expensive and time consuming with no guarantee of success.

It may be galling, but your best / quickest / easiest option might be to bear the entire cost.