Neighbour's Cowboy Roofers Caused Leak In My Roof

Mistyglaze

Hi all, 

I've got a small shared flat roof which is the size of a standard porch. The neighbours got their part of the roof redone in the last 3 weeks by a pair of very obvious cowboys. I felt intimidated taking my dog into the garden as they would shout and heckle me from the roof. 

Well, after last night's rain, I am now left with water dripping in my house from the flat roof. 

I've sought advice from a family member roofer (doesn't live close) and he said that it does not appear to have been sealed or to have used the correct screws.

Went around to my neighbour, calmly told him the problem and showed him the sealant that my family member recommended that would help until it was sorted properly. 

Now, we don't have the best relationship as he doesn't like cats (we have two) and he likes to be intimating and threatening whenever he can. He admitted that it was a cowboy roofer and he hasn't been able to get back in touch with them since they did it (which makes me think that there are other problems with the roof that I don't know about) but then he became aggressive yelling about my pets again. I calmly said I'm here being civil and reasonable as I now have water coming through my previously water tight ceiling and he slammed the door in my face.

I've now got 3 buckets where my work desk normally is, as like many people I work from home, my home emergency cover won't touch as it's a flat roof and will lose my no claims on my buildings insurance if I have to claim through that! 

Not a clue what my next steps should be and would be super grateful for any advice whatsoever! 

Thank you, Misty

FreeBear

Do you have legal cover on your household insurance ?

Give them a ring.... Your neighbour will be liable for any damage/repairs and it would be up to him to then make a claim against the cowboy roofer.

In the meantime, get a reputable roofer out to make emergency repairs. Hang on to the receipt and add it to the bill once a proper repair has been made.

Mistyglaze

Hi, good thinking FreeBear.
Just got off the phone to the insurance, the call staff on today are not employed by Axa... so couldn't tell me anything about my policy including if and how the legal cover works. 
Someone from Axa is going to call me in the next 24 working hours to go through next steps! 

bob_a_builder

Mistyglaze said:

Hi, good thinking FreeBear.
Just got off the phone to the insurance, the call staff on today are not employed by Axa... so couldn't tell me anything about my policy including if and how the legal cover works. 
Someone from Axa is going to call me in the next 24 working hours to go through next steps! 

Whats the point of them then ?  

ashe

bob_a_builder said:

Mistyglaze said:

Hi, good thinking FreeBear.
Just got off the phone to the insurance, the call staff on today are not employed by Axa... so couldn't tell me anything about my policy including if and how the legal cover works. 
Someone from Axa is going to call me in the next 24 working hours to go through next steps! 

Whats the point of them then ?  

usually, to take the initial details of a claim until the people that need those details are around, and to deal with any emergencies

Mistyglaze

bob_a_builder said:

Mistyglaze said:

Hi, good thinking FreeBear.
Just got off the phone to the insurance, the call staff on today are not employed by Axa... so couldn't tell me anything about my policy including if and how the legal cover works. 
Someone from Axa is going to call me in the next 24 working hours to go through next steps! 

Whats the point of them then ?  

That was my first thought exactly... He has gone up on the roof and replaced the screws and looks like he's used sealant too, so hopefully things will be drier this evening when the rain starts up again!