Attic wall

Mandyegg

Neighbours selling their terraced house. She put a letter through my door stating solicitors are asking about the attic wall which has gaps in where you can see through. She is asking when we will do the work to repair it. Bare in mind we have lived here 42 years and it's always been like that. There have been 2 owners next door in the previous 10 years and this hasn't been mentioned. She also states the shared chimney stack needs work and asks who is responsible. Also the roof between the terrace the surveyor says should be seamless and it's not, again asking us who is responsible. I was gobsmacked. It's her selling the house. None of this has anything to do with us. We can't just be expected to do all of this work to benefit her sale. Can anyone advise please. She already moved out to another property also. 

FreeBear

Personally, I take the view that if a neighbour can't be bothered to discuss an issue face to face, any scribblings get used to light the fire. But in answer to the points raised... The chimney would be a shared responsibility depending on the extent of the work required. e.g. If it needs repointing on just her side, then she needs to organise and pay for the work. On the other hand, if the whole chimney is unstable & unsafe and requires a rebuild, then it would be a shared responsibility.

The party wall in the loft, shared responsibility. Gaps are not that uncommon, and in some (older) terraced housing, a wall may not even exist. Depending on the extent of the gaps and the location, they may not even be an issue.

Roof - Not your problem.

Bottom line - She is selling, you have no responsibility to undertake work that benefits her sale. It will be for the new neighbours to negotiate.

donemedosh

I would do nothing at all. She is selling & wants things doing to get a better price.

canaldumidi

Mandyegg said:

Neighbours selling their terraced house. She put a letter through my door stating solicitors are asking about the attic wall which has gaps in where you can see through. She is asking when we will do the work to repair it.

Cheeky! If she wants work done, she should a) discuss and see if you agree b) arange it herself and c) share the cost. Many houses have no wall at all, though current building Regs require a fire safe wall in New Builds. But you are under no obligation either to agree or indeed, to reply!

Bare in mind we have lived here 42 years and it's always been like that. There have been 2 owners next door in the previous 10 years and this hasn't been mentioned.

Well there you go. Seemy comment above!

She also states the shared chimney stack needs work and asks who is responsible.

What work and where? Her side? Your side? Both? Effectively the 'boundary' (and hence responsibility) is down the centre line of the chimney, though if work is needed both sides it makes sense to combine repairs ad costs. But is work really needed,or is it just to make it look smarter and helpher sell?

Also the roof between the terrace the surveyor says should be seamless and it's not, again asking us who is responsible.

Not sure what that means, but as with the chimney depends where the issue is. If it's central eg lead lined roof gulley, then shared. But my question to you would be "is it leakig?" If not, why repair? As above, ignore if you wish (and if she can't be bothered to knock and discuss, well.......!)

I was gobsmacked. It's her selling the house. None of this has anything to do with us. We can't just be expected to do all of this work to benefit her sale. Can anyone advise please. She already moved out to another property also. 

My advice? Ignore. Unless you actually have a problem eg damp

pramsay13

Obviously these issues have been flagged by surveyor as she tries to sell the house. 
What do your title deed say about responsibilities?
If she has already moved I can understand a letter through the door.
Ultimately for the issues that you have shared responsibility you will need to organise / pay towards getting it done. If it was me I would probably rather organise and get share from seller / new owner so I was sure work being done was to a decent standard.

twopenny

I had this from people just moved in next door. They needed the chimney stack repointed ie scaffolding and builder and wanted me to share. I checked via binoculars and camera and declined. Their problem. It wasn't about to fall down or even unsafe. Though through pressure of me selling mine I gave them a contributary amount just to shut them up when I was trying to sell.

This isn't your problem if it's always been like that. She's had a through survey and the new regs possibily show it would come up on a survey and put some people off.

As said, she's selling so she needs to deal with it. Hasn't bothered her enough to do anything while she's been living there. Unlikely to bother buyers. If they've any sense the prospective buyers may speak to you and you can explain.

One thing occours to me. Why has she had a survey done? The buyers usually have a survey. Something out of kilter there. Have you seen this 'said' survey.

I would suggest not communicating but if it gets annoying immediately ask for a copy of this survey which will give you exactly what they put (may not be quite the same as she is suggesting) and the name/address of the surveyers. Also ask why she had a survey done. Until you see it you don't know if she's having you on.

FaceHead

Agree with FreeBear - ignore and don't worry about it. Your new neighbours may discuss these things with you, at which point you may agree share the costs of some of the things which are shared responsibility (or you may feel they are not adequately urgent to require attention).

As for the woman who has already packed up and left, it doesn't sound like you need to interact with her again.