Roof repair - shared costs on a Reverse Freehold flat

amygill1990

I have purchased a reverse freehold flat, there is just me (first floor) and the other landlord (ground floor) within the building

We need a roof repair. The building has three sections to the roof and one of them is leaking. I had this repaired and when it was done I was told the whole roof wasn't battened correctly and I may run into problems. Well the roof is still leaking so I am looking at getting that section of the roof completely redone.

Myself and the landlord are jointly responsible for the cost of this repair

The landlord is panicking because they haven't the money to have the work done, but the longer we don't, the more damage it is causing, so is accepting that she needs to find the cash. She is looking at grants, she seem's to think she's found a grant she may be able to access to help with her half of the costs. I cant find anything on this when I google it and I am concerned whoever deals with the grants will have to look at us as a whole and not just her so she may not be eligible once they take into consideration my wage

Has anyone any knowledge of roof grants and how they work?

GDB2222

I have never come across the term reverse freehold?

Where are you located, roughly? 

propertyrental

GDB2222 said:

I have never come across the term reverse freehold?

Where are you located, roughly? 

I believe upper flat owns freehold to lower flat and vice verse. Unusual and not ideal....
Each flat has a lease yes?
Wording on the leases re repairs please.

Re the grant, it seems unlikely but surely best 1st stepis to ask her for the name/details or provider of the grant?

NameUnavailable

Never heard of a roof grant. Maybe they're thinkng of grants for insulation or something else?

The lease will state who is responsible for the roof and to what proportion of the costs.

GDB2222

I was thinking that the grant might be local, which is why I asked the rough location. 

Thanks for explaining about reverse freehold. 

hazyjo

Sounds like a Tyneside flat lease. That term is usually more commonly known on here.

user1977

amygill1990 said:

she seems to think she's found a grant she may be able to access to help with her half of the costs.

Well, can she tell you more about it? As others have said, such things aren't generally available, but maybe there's something specific she's found. Though often grants are only for owner-occupiers, not landlords.

amygill1990

We’re based in Plymouth 
I think they’re quite popular here , we both have documentation explaining we’re both responsible for the costs of repairs , so I’m not so concerned about that
I think she’s got confused with insulation grants too, but wondered if there was such a thing that was unaware of ! I’ll have to find more out from her 

amygill1990

hazyjo said:

Sounds like a Tyneside flat lease. That term is usually more commonly known on here.

Googling a “Tyneside lease” leads me to believe that is essentially what we have, just isn’t called that down here

amygill1990

It apparat’s she has got confused with insulation grants 😔 I think I may be in for a long wait for her to get the cash for the work now. If anyone does know anything about a grant for repairs do post ☺️

Gers

amygill1990 said:

It apparat’s she has got confused with insulation grants 😔 I think I may be in for a long wait for her to get the cash for the work now. If anyone does know anything about a grant for repairs do post ☺️

Try contacting your local council, they may have a specific fund available. Certainly in Glasgow the council offers 50% grants for roof and attendant repairs under a range of tight conditions.