Problem with Next door's roof (again)

hev_2

All you lovely people advised me to move in the summer. You were right. However...

The current crop of neighbours is okay, my DH got made redundant last summer and has only just started working again (I have no wage) and we are locked into a quite favourable mortgage until 2010. So really, selling up and moving on isn't our first choice.

Next door's roof leaks and the damp is coming through.

Landlord of next door got a builder in to fix the roof, board over the old velux window and cut a new velux. As no-one speaks to the landlord, it is not surprising that he employed the same builder/roofer who left someone else high and dry. New velux has been cut but not sealed, the old velux has not been boarded up and the roof has not been mended. Builder has done a vanishing act - not surprising, really, as he was paid in advance. :eek:

Just out of interest - does anyone have any suggestions. I am leaving it another week for the holiday feeling to settle down then I was hoping to get in touch with the local council. I just thought I would see if anyone could offer anything constructive.

(We should have moved years ago, when we had a chance, but things looked like they were getting better then they suddenly got worse. I hate living here).

Loretta

hev wrote: »

All you lovely people advised me to move in the summer. You were right. However...

The current crop of neighbours is okay, my DH got made redundant last summer and has only just started working again (I have no wage) and we are locked into a quite favourable mortgage until 2010. So really, selling up and moving on isn't our first choice.

Next door's roof leaks and the damp is coming through.

Landlord of next door got a builder in to fix the roof, board over the old velux window and cut a new velux. As no-one speaks to the landlord, it is not surprising that he employed the same builder/roofer who left someone else high and dry. New velux has been cut but not sealed, the old velux has not been boarded up and the roof has not been mended. Builder has done a vanishing act - not surprising, really, as he was paid in advance. :eek:

Just out of interest - does anyone have any suggestions. I am leaving it another week for the holiday feeling to settle down then I was hoping to get in touch with the local council. I just thought I would see if anyone could offer anything constructive.

(We should have moved years ago, when we had a chance, but things looked like they were getting better then they suddenly got worse. I hate living here).

if there is damage to your house phone your insurance company, that is what you pay them for, they will fix your damage and then 'ask' the person who cause the damage, or their insurance company to pay up. You don't have to deal with this personally

Debt_Free_Chick

Agree with Loretta. Get your insurer onto it.

It's nothing to do with the local council - it's a private matter between two property owners.

hev_2

Thank you for your replies.

Insurers won't deal with it because it is an ongoing longterm problem. Sigh.

There is a little bit of staining on one ceiling. Paper is falling off the wall and I have three dehumidifiers running. As to whether there is actual damage is another matter.

Loretta

hev wrote: »

Thank you for your replies.

Insurers won't deal with it because it is an ongoing longterm problem. Sigh.

There is a little bit of staining on one ceiling. Paper is falling off the wall and I have three dehumidifiers running. As to whether there is actual damage is another matter.

I think your insurance company has been trying to fob you off. next door have an ongoing long term problem because they don't keep their house in good repair. You have damage, staining on the ceiling, paper falling off the wall and damp, to your house caused by your neighbour not maintaining his house, that is damage. You do not know what other damage is going on in your house because of your neighbours meglect of his own property.

if he had a detached house he is quite at liberty to let it fall down if he feels like it (I'm not talking about grade 1 listed and all that), if his house is attached to yours he has a duty of care to make sure that whatever he is doing with his house does not damage your property

Do you have any legal advice cover included in you house insurance? if so use it, phone up for some advice. If not phone your insurance company and insist that you get to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about and not just to the people who are paid to get rid of you

Let us know how you get on as I expect people would like to know how all this works

Generali

As I understand it, you can get a court injunction to force your neighbour to make the repairs. You should check any legal cover on your insurance and take advice. The CAB might be able to help(?)

hev_2

Thank you for your replies.

Right, calling the insurers again is on the to do list.

I will certainly let you know how it goes on.

Just for information, the landlord of next door has already had one house condemned by local council, and I suspect they could find a lot more of his properties need condemning as well. Just hope it doesn't impact my current neighbours too much as they are lovely.