Signing a agreement between both neighbours

peabottle

I have still not put pen to paper regarding a signed contract. It has been on my mind for a while, what I cannot accept is why I have been put in this position, when the dispute was between the builder and my neighbour, due to lack of communication.

Why should I be responsible for the builders actions.

 

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82170064#Comment_82170064

Because you employed them.

WIAWSNB

The consensus seems to be that the builder did a decent job of the joining the two roofs, although why they didn't interlock the tiles on the two roofs instead - since they appear to be identical - I don't understand.

I asked what the roof of the main house was like - do your two roofs flow as one, without a break? If so, that would make sense for the extension roof too.

What your builder seemingly did do 'wrong', was to not discuss the preferred/chosen method, and any options, before hand, and get their approval.

You have also been asked what the plans showed for the roof. Was this shared and discussed with your neighbour?

Answers to these Qs would help.

What to do now? If your neighbour is insistent on you taking responsibility for this ridge, or for any damage or leaks caused as a result, then - since it wasn't agreed beforehand - you can appreciate why they feel this way.

Any idea what the neighbour expected instead? No join at all, but a narrow gap between the extensions? That would be bonkers, and a recipe for future issues. Or, for you to not build your extension at all?! Clearly unreasonable. Any idea what it is they 'don't like'? Can you ask? Discuss? Has the builder explained his reasoning?

Bottom line, if all it needs to move on is for a note from you accepting responsibility for maintaining that ridge, and for any leaks that result from poor work/wrong method, then why not write it? It'll almost certainly be decades before it becomes an issue - if ever.

peabottle

Response to comments.

The two roofs have different tiles, although they do look similar, also the roofs have different angles due to my roof expanding my neighbours by 500mm. The main roof the two roofs flow together no break. 

The plans were verbally discussed with my neighbour keeping a similar pitch roof to blend visually the two rear extensions, neighbour always positive regards the building work commenting, it will be a mess when the work is being done but when finished it will be worth it. 

Has work progressed my neighbour accepted there would be times when a builder would cross her boundary as we In turn accepted as when they built their extension. The atmosphere turned a bit sour when our builder’s made a mess and didn’t clean up, my neighbour made it clear she was unhappy with the situation, I put the builder in the picture no more mess. 

The neighbour asked her previous builder for his opinion regarding the ridge, the two builders met on site there builder found it acceptable commenting good work done not a problem with the ridge tiles .

The bottom line 

My builder has put his hands up for lack of communication and apologised to my neighbour, which I emphasised to the builder regularly.

 

Regarding the responsibility for employing the builder. Where do you draw the line.

Thank you regards all your comments.

peabottle

Ectophile

 

Am I responsible for all the builders actions.

I take it you would be correct, but surely if the builder is qualified with 30 years behind him I would presume he would not take to a layman (me) questioning his experience/communication skills.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82170702#Comment_82170702

D'oh! Of course - since your roof extends out further, then it couldn't follow the same pitch as your neighb's without ending up lower - presumably too low - at the soffit end. That makes sense.

Nice

WIAWSNB

Peabottle, it would appear that your builder's roof joining method was decent. It is very positive that your neighbour's builder agrees with this.

Yes, the neighbour might still feel aggrieved, because they were perfectly happy with their roof until you also decided to build, but that is unreasonable of them; you are equally entitled to build up to the boundary, and it would in any case be the worst solution to, say, leave a small gap.

So, a roof join is absolutely the best solution.

It is made more complex here, tho', by you deciding on a larger extension. If yours had been the same size, then you'd have blended the tiles into one unbroken surface - far better.

However, you have what you have. So, what to do now? That's up to you... You could tell the neighbour they are being unreasonable, since you are as entitled to have an extension as they are, and the two would always join together, so 'get over it'.

How will that go down?! Since both builders agreed it's a fair job, then they couldn't do anything about it, at least not without serious legal involvement. However, you will end up with a tetchy neighbour, whereas you currently appear to be getting on ok.

So, what can you do instead? Your builder will be providing a warranty for his work, I presume? How many years for the roof? For that period, he'll be responsible for sorting it if it leaks or deteriorates.

After that, the joint will last - ohh - a decade or two before needing repointing? How much will that wee job cost - a couple of hundred?

So, if signing a doc is what it takes...