Do I have a claim-NHBC-advice!

Olivia2018

So on the weekend we noticed a leak on our bedroom ceiling following heavy rain/wind. We inspected further in the loft above and saw that water was dripping down the wooden joists/beams and they were soaked- water has then got through the insulation and through the ceiling.

We have now had 3 roofers round two of which have conducted drone inspections all saying the same thing that they think it’s going to be a cracked or slipped roof tile (or two) however it gets complicated because we are in a 3 story house and have solar panels which cover majority of the roof. So they can’t actually see anything by drone to confirm this! But the general thought is that the solar panels being installed have caused the tiles to crack/damage.
Our house is 8 years into the NHBC warranty, I called yesterday and they now want me to send photograph evidence- for further than I thought as I didn’t expect to get this far.

The work will definitely be over the minimum £1950 value.
has anyone had experience and success with getting this covered via NHBC and got any tips or advice they can share?

Woodstok2000

Did the panels come with the house?

Isthisforreal99

'General thoughts' is not really evidence though is it. Think you need something a bit more and after 8 years it seems unlikely

Keep_pedalling

Sounds like storm damage and the people you should be speaking to is your insurance company.

Olivia2018

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82185063#Comment_82185063

they did yes, they were fitted by an energy company as the house was built from new. The energy company has gone bust though I believe

RelievedSheff

Sounds more like storm damage then a structural problem with the building.

One for either your insurers or your own wallet depending on the cost.

NHBC will just say that it isn't/wasn't a problem with the construction of the property.

eddddy

The current NHBC Buildmark policy terms suggest that damage to roof coverings is covered in years 3 to 10, if it results in water getting into your home - and it was a result of the builder not meeting NHBC technical requirements.

See: https://www.nhbc.co.uk/kontentdocuments/e88b57b8-832c-49e0-b9f1-540f033093c4/az-policy-booklet.pdf

Regarding your buildings insurance…

I would be very cautious about contacting your building insurers about this.

Typically, for a storm damage claim, you would have to specify the date and approximate time the storm damage occurred.

Then the insurers would check Met Office records to see if there were storm force winds in your area on that day and time (i.e. wind speeds over about 50mph).

But it doesn't sound like you know a specific date and time.

Even if you just phone your building insurers to ask about this, it might be recorded on the CUE database as "an incident which may or may not result in a claim", which could increase your future premiums.

So it's probably best not to contact your building insurers unless you are pretty sure the damage is covered, and you are pretty sure you want to claim.

RelievedSheff

How do you prove that the damage is caused by a builder defect rather then storm damage?

eddddy

RelievedSheff said

How do you prove that the damage is caused by a builder defect rather then storm damage?

By inspecting the roof to see if it has been constructed to NHBC specification.

And/or by getting an expert opinion from a professional chartered building surveyor. (When there are disputes about buildings, that's generally the route to getting them resolved.)

FWIW, here are a few snippets from the NHBC technical spec for roof coverings:

RelievedSheff

I work with NHBC on a daily basis so am very familiar with their guidance.

I still standby this being a case they will dismiss.

It is going to be nigh on impossible to argue and prove that a roof constructed 8 years ago that has only just started leaking is down to bad workmanship and not storm damage.

eddddy

RelievedSheff said

I work with NHBC on a daily basis so am very familiar with their guidance.

I still standby this being a case they will dismiss.

It is going to be nigh on impossible to argue and prove that a roof constructed 8 years ago that has only just started leaking is down to bad workmanship and not storm damage.

Just to be pedantic - it's not really a case of proving poor workmanship, it's a case of showing that the roof wasn't built to NHBC technical requirements.

As a random example, if the roofer used galvanised steel nails (instead of silicon bronze, phosphor bronze,
aluminium or copper), that would be a breach of NHBC's technical requirements.

And the nails might then have rusted away over the 8 years, resulting in slipped tiles.

Obviously, that's just one possibility, there are many other possibilities - some which are breaches of NHBC technical requirements, and some which are not.