Home purchase / roof leak

Lauraaa12

I moved in to my own house 2 months ago and have a leak coming  into my property from the roof. Should I contact my solicitor about this or am I responsible for the problem?

The seller when I moved in also left a card to say a ceiling light did not work and the window was broken but never mentioned this through the process 

Thanks 

AdrianC

What did your survey say about the roof?

Your house, your leak, your problem. You do your due diligence before purchase.

TripleH

Sadly I think this is your problem to deal with now, it's part of home ownership.

theartfullodger

Is this England or Scotland or elsewhere?  (Laws are different over defects...).

House leak could have started after you moved in.  Was there any evidence (staining, damp..) when you moved in?

What did the survey you paid for state about roof, leaks etc please?

eddddy

(Assuming it's in England/Wales)

You might have a claim against the seller if they said something misleading in the contract documentation - like in the 'Sellers Property Information Form" or in their answers to pre-contract enquiries (that went via solicitors).

But TBH, I doubt they said anything like "There are no leaks in the roof".

Apart from that, unfortunately, it's up to you to do any inspections or arrange any surveys that you need to find out the condition of the property.

user1977

theartfullodger said:

Is this England or Scotland or elsewhere?  (Laws are different over defects...).

There's no relevant difference in the law. There are differences in what is typically agreed in the contracts. But even in Scotland, nobody is likely to guarantee that the roof isn't leaking. 

csgohan4

did you get a roofing survey prior to exchange/completion?

I doubt home insurance will cover unless it was due extreme weather. 

Otherwise you will need it looked at and fixed urgently given the season

canaldumidi

A roofer or building contractor is likely to know more about how to fix the roof than your solicitor. And is more likely to take on the job.

https://www.nfrc.co.uk/

https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

Soot2006

We also completed in August (2019) after a long dry spring and dry summer, so at first serious driving rain, we found many leaks. Most were easily patched; one just made a comeback in last week's downpours.  Torrential driving rain will find the faults in any roof, but that doesn't mean it's super serious.  Sometimes it's a really easy fix as water will always take the path of least resistance. In my case, the water is coming down a wall that is attached to neighbour, so assuming some clogging in the "gutter" between the houses. No electrics on that wall so, other than staining, it's more of an annoyance than anything else.  After serious driving rain, I always take the time to check the loft and all rooms, as in houses with an older roof, you will get some ingress now and then so might as well patch up as and when (new roof is not affordable for us).

Lauraaa12

Thank you, does your mortgage provider need to be alerted when repairs are needed?

Drawingaline

Lauraaa12 said:

Thank you, does your mortgage provider need to be alerted when repairs are needed?

No they do not