Help first time buyer - what is a roofing report

dawn13

Hi, first time buyer here seeking help from you lovely people!
I have just had my valuation report back from the mortgage lender and it says they want a roofing report...
I have a family member who is a roofer which is great as I can trust them but they have not done a “report” before, can any roofer do a report for the mortgage company or does this need to be carried out by a specialist type of roofer?
It’s a stone built terrace house the roof looks ok to me though clearly I’m not qualified.

Also The loft has been converted into a loft room but the sellers haven’t had it checked by building regs to class it as a 3rd bedroom which is fine by me as I don’t need it as a bedroom but now with this request for a roofing report I wonder if there’s a problem with the loft conversion? In which case do I need a structural engineer to check that out or will a roofer spot anything?
The valuation report doesn’t specify any details.

Thanks!

Mutton_Geoff

dawn13 wrote: »

Hi, first time buyer here seeking help from you lovely people!
I have just had my valuation report back from the mortgage lender and it says they want a roofing report...
I have a family member who is a roofer which is great as I can trust them but they have not done a “report” before, can any roofer do a report for the mortgage company or does this need to be carried out by a specialist type of roofer?
It’s a stone built terrace house the roof looks ok to me though clearly I’m not qualified.

Also The loft has been converted into a loft room but the sellers haven’t had it checked by building regs to class it as a 3rd bedroom which is fine by me as I don’t need it as a bedroom but now with this request for a roofing report I wonder if there’s a problem with the loft conversion? In which case do I need a structural engineer to check that out or will a roofer spot anything?
The valuation report doesn’t specify any details.

Thanks!

How many of the roof timbers did the vendor chop through to construct the new room? I would get professional advice.

dawn13

Gulp that sounds scary!
Ok thanks for the advice.

G_M

Ask the lender what kind of report they want!

Maybe a roofer's quote for whatever work is needed.
Maybe a structural engineer to check the roof support is sound.


Lackof Building Regs for the conversion raises 2 issues


1) enforcement action by the local authority eg to re-do/undo any non-compliant aspects (or all of it!). This rarely happens and can only be done within 12 (or 24) months of completion. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations/3

Insurance can be taken out (by the seller usually) to cover the cost if that happens.


2) dangerous or shoddy work. As Mutton G says, cowboys do all sorts of dangerous things! Lesser issues might be inadequate insulation etc.


I'd be far more worried about 2) above so get a surveyor/structural engineer to check

Mutton_Geoff

dawn13 wrote: »

Gulp that sounds scary!
Ok thanks for the advice.

It could be. Often the ceiling joists are not designed to hold the weight of people in a room above. It's possible the roof was an A frame that got chopped into to make way or some timbers were removed to fit Velux windows. You need to make sure that it was constructed correctly.


http://kingmoorconsulting.co.uk/news/recent-projects/timber-roof-terms/


(No connection, just a link with terms)