Renting Advice Needed - Roof Work

Becca_42

Hi

So after months of complaining to our landlords agent, our roof is finally getting fixed. There was a crack in the ceiling when we moved in, and we didn't think anything about it. Mid Dec 18 Jan 19 we noticed that there was water on the ceiling and running down the wall. We told the agent who at first said it was to do with us breathing - I know!

I thought it was to do with the ventilation fan in the bathroom - there is no visible output from it. However next time it rained hard we knew there was an issue with the roof.

A couple of month ago the agent put scaffolding up - 4 months later, he apparently had issues getting a roofer, our roof was being looked at. At first they put a pipe on the roof, god knows what for but that didn't work.

Last week, the roofers came back and stripped the old tiles and started to replace them. Lucky that week it was sunny and we hoped we'd have a new roof by the weekend. However the roofers didn't turn up Friday or Saturday. And now we have the rain.

To be fair the work they have done, we haven't had a leak yet however are roofers meant to fix the roof in one go, say several consecutive days?
I haven't spoken to the agent yet, but I know he is going to say they can't come out due to the rain.

Is there anything I can do? Or is it just a game of wait and see (hopefully we'll be out of the flat and into our own property soon)

Kind Regards,
Annoyed and Stressed Tennant!

Comms69

There is no standard answer, roofers will work when they can and when they are paid to.

sal_III

Becca_42 wrote: »

Is there anything I can do? Or is it just a game of wait and see (hopefully we'll be out of the flat and into our own property soon)

You could serve notice and move out. That's what I would have done if the leaking roof wasn't fixed in a couple of months, yet alone 9+

Check if your home insurance content cover will payout in case you get water damage during roof repairs.

Doozergirl

If the felt is on, then the roof should be watertight. It's unfortunate if it rains mid-fix, but they can't work in the likes of this weather. Friday, of course they could have worked, but no one knows what the schedule is. We had Friday off for a construction awards ceremony.

G_M

Becca_42 wrote: »

....
A couple of month ago the agent put scaffolding up -

I have such a lovely picture in my head.

Did they turn up in one of those flash new Minis with the agent's logo on the side.....?!!

We told the agent who at first said....

For the future, repairing issues, especially potentially serious ones like damp, roof etc, should be reported to the landlord as named on the tenancy agreement, at the postal address provided in writing (by law) ' for serving notices'.

By all means also use email, text, whatever, and by all means copy in the agent, but use the proper formal process for reporting to the LL.

Incidentally, tenants have an implied contractual duty to act 'in a tenant-like manner', and that includes informing their LL of issues like this. Failure to do so can leave the tenant open to a claim for any damage caused by ongoing leaks which were not properly reported.......... LLs cannot fix leaks about which they have not been informed.

(not suggesting this applies here, just clarifying things for you and anyone else reading this)