Am I being unreasonable to neighbour?

[LumpyandBumps]

I have a mid terrace house. The next door neighbour said he had water coming down his bedroom wall following heavy rain.

He had a roofing company out who say there is no problem with his roof ( it is relatively new). They suggested that the problem might be due to water ‘siphoning’ in from my roof.

Their leak is on a wall which is at right angles to my house. The water is coming in around 3’ away from my roof, but I understand that water can travel far from the original entry point. There is no leak or dampness in my house.

I wanted to cooperate, and know that water ingress can cause huge problems, so had someone round a few days later. He noticed that the ( shared) down pipe, which is attached to neighbour’s wall, was blocked, and cleared that. That would have been close to the point of water entry.

We had heavy rain shortly after, and all was ok.

A few weeks later the problem reoccurred. The neighbour mentioned a blockage at the end of another ( shared) gutter. The part which was blocked is actually attached to his house, but mostly mine. It seemed to flow ok, but I had it cleared anyway.

It didn’t solve the problem.

I have had my roof visually checked from my loft, and from the outside via a ladder, and there is no obvious problem. I haven’t paid for scaffolding so that they can go right onto the roof ( neither did the neighbour when he had roofers call).

The neighbour is looking to me to fix the problem.

The roofers who checked his property didn’t mention the blocked gutters and down pipe, and they only said his roof looks ok and the water ‘might’ be getting in via my roof.

I do empathise with him, having had a difficult to locate leak in a previous property. Am I being unreasonable to say that I am happy for his roofers to check my roof and if they can identity where the water is coming in I will willingly pay the roofer’s call out fee and fix it IF it is from my property, but otherwise I have done what I can?

You sound like a reasonable and level headed person. After that point. You've done all you can.

What you suggest sounds reasonable to me. You've done what you can.

Unless he can prove without doubt that your roof is causing it, it ain't your problem..
Many years ago I had an issue with my terraced house, stone guttering needed releading. Roofer came round and we agreed a price for him to fix it. Next door neighbour noticed we were having work done and seized the opportunity to inform me that water was entering his house from my defective guttering. I mentioned this to the roofer who pointed out that given the road was on a slope and my house was lower than his, it was highly unlikely the water was flowing uphill 😁😁

😂

I wouldn't just take their roofers word. I'd get a second possibly even 3rd opinion

Get him to go through his insurance.

Diagram for layout? I think you’ve been v reasonable so far and can’t see what else you could do.

I have attempted a diagram - you will see why I gave up Art at an early stage. I can’t get the perspective to show the right angle. The neighbour’s house protrudes several feet forward. Part of his roof seems to overlap mine.
As well as the diagram I have found a photo of an identical house on the estate, and have blanked out detail and attached that too.

A* diagram!
You have definitely done more than most would do but it’s up to him to find a solution now, espy as his roofers don’t sound like they’re that good.

The location of the leak is entirely on his property, you've had your roof checked and cleared pipes and gutters, and offered to pay off he can fully prove its caused by your property. You've done more than enough now, the rest is up to him.

If, not off.

From your diagram I don't see how it can be your issue, especially as the guttering is now clear.

He needs to get his roofers back.

I think you've been perfectly reasonable in trying to resolve the issue. He should call his insurance now, and if it is your problem, they will advise accordingly.

I would suspect the flashing round the chimney

Slightly different situation, my ndn had their roof replaced due to damp (their own fault), but once it was made good, it did channel water into my bedroom, however it was because my own roof needed repairing, but the water hadn't been getting to my roof due to it going into the ndn first.

Once I'd had my roof repaired, it was fine. You are responsible for your own roof. If you're happy that yours is fine then your ndn needs to sort the problem on their side .

How can you fix a problem you dont have. You've went over and above. I'd just explain everything you have done to date and suggest he get a second opinion.

He needs to get his guttering cleared.
if the guttering is not catching the water from the roof it’s either not wide enough or blocked

This.

Absolutely water might be coming off your property onto his! Water is also coming out of the sky onto his. It is up to him to make his house watertight 🤷‍♀️

His roofer sounds crap if they didn’t spot the blocked pipe which is a really obvious thing to check.

Tell him to speak to his insurance.

We had a neighbours roof causing issues with ours and they declined to do anything. We contacted our insurance and they sent a surveyor round. They must have then passed the report onto his insurance company because he then got it sorted pretty quickly.

Did either roofer check the chimney? We had a leak in this house and it was our chimney pointing.

I don’t mean it’s your roof, just that a surveyor would pinpoint the issue.

Thank you. I hadn’t thought about insurance companies becoming involved.
My insurance runs out soon, and I have gone with a new company as my renewal quotation had increased a lot.
I am still within the cancellation period for the new one. I think it will be better to cancel the new one and go with the old company, so I don’t have to deal with more than one.
That’s unfortunate timing.

Not sure if anyone will still be watching, but I have another dilemma now.

There have been no further leaks, and neighbour is now saying clearing the gutters seems to have done the job? ( I still don’t think it has, although neighbour is now saying last leak may have been water draining through soaked roof insulation, I suspect the leaks are a combination of very heavy rain and wind direction, so won’t occur every time.)

Neighbour is now mentioning damage to his plasterwork and carpet. He hasn’t directly asked me to contribute towards this, but seems to be hinting.

He seemed to think the guttering and down pipe was all my responsibility, so I have put him right about that.

The down pipe I had cleared was blocked above where the pipe from my gutter joins it ( only my porch roof drains into it), so it had been blocked in the part serving just his house.

The shared gutter I had cleared is mostly mine, but the part that was blocked was actually outside his house.

As these are shared and we both neglected to get them cleared earlier could I have any liability for damage caused? I had no problems in my house, and he could have arranged for them to be cleared himself.

I paid for all the guttering and down pipe clearing, and didn’t ask him to contribute.

he can definitely claim on his insurance for leaks

I did think that. I don’t really know how much damage was caused, and why the carpet didn’t just dry out.
I suppose the cost might be below his insurance excess.