Sub-contractors working on behalf of local council - who is responsible for damage to my property

ysabella

Hi all, hoping someone can help with this as I am at my wits end.

I own an ex local authority house (semi detached bungalow), bought 12 years ago from then current owners and at full market value.  My neighbour, an elderly lady, is still a council tenant.  Some 18 months ago we had our slate roof renewed and kept to the original style as I do like the slate tiles.  In March we received a letter from a management company, working on behalf of the council, stating that external renovation work was commencing on my neighbours property.  We agreed that the  building company could enter our garden to put up their scaffolding, no problem.  However, after they started my husband happened to go into the garden, looked up and saw that they had removed two rows of our slates, from top to bottom of the roof, and also the new lead flashing our roofer had put in.  My husband was fuming and told them to get our slates put back on immediately, which they did.  However they have made a complete mess of replacing our slates and this part of the roof now looks as if it is old tiles that are on, rather than the nice deep black of our new roof.  When I complained to the council their reply was "they are allowed access to carry out renovation work, check your title deeds".  As far as I'm concerned we did give them access to erect their scaffolding but surely they do not have the right to remove slates from my roof?   They also renewed guttering next door (which used to run continuously with ours but no longer does) and left us with bent guttering which, after a heavy downpour, water poured from it.  We have complained to the council, the subcontracts and the management company (who sent round a chartered surveyor who agreed our roof was not right) but basically have been told that the subcontractor thinks our roof is fine and they are not going to strip it back and re-tile.  Where do I go from here, can anyone advise please.  I am going round in circles and am fuming that, after paying a lot of money to have my roof re-slated, this lot have come in and basically torn it apart.

Sorry this is rather long winded but I've been arguing with them all for 3 months now but it seems they want us just to accept it as it is.

Doozergirl

Do you have legal  with your home insurance? 

They should not have removed anything that was yours without a party wall agreement.  There's no point getting one retrospectively, but they are responsible for any damage.  

tacpot12

Doozergirl left out the word "Protection" from her question. If you have legal protection with your home insurance, you can give the legal helpline a call and they will advise you what to do. 

I would not accept it as is. You probably will prefer getting the original roofer back for a quote to remediate the damage. Your insurers will guide you. 

ysabella

I'm not sure about having legal assistance with my contents/building insurance but I'll check this out.  I get the impression that the contractors don't care because they are carrying out work on behalf of the council so think they'll have the backing from them.

FaceHead

Get a quote to remediate the damage. Send it to the the contractor and tell them they have 28 days to put the damage right or you will get your own contractor to do it, and recover the costs from them. Ideally include something from that surveyor that confirms the part of the roof they've been fiddling with is now not right.

If they don't start work in 28 days send authorise your contactor to start the work, and send them a letter before action

Eldi_Dos

Take photos of roof and guttering and go and see your local councilor,they should be able to help especially with the time you have been waiting for a resolution.

twopenny

Indeed take photos. If it rains get out there to show the water flowing.

When I had a complaint to make I printed all the relevant photos of damage on one A4 page to accompany the letter with dates etc. keeping a copy.

If you have any of the roof before it would be helpful.

I also phoned to ask who it should be addressed to - but maybe you know that already.

Wouldn't hurt to have a copy for the authority you are dealing with and another set for your Councilor. Belt and braces.

Let them both consider that while, having informed them that you are going to, get in touch with your contractor about remedying the damage so you are ready to go if they stall again.