Ex council flat - Roof Leak

[Vickimf]

Hi

I wonder if anyone had experienced a similar problem to what I am experiencing at the moment. I live in a maisonette flat that was ex council I live in the top flat and there is a council tenant underneath.

I have always had to pay for my buildings insurance though the council. With the heavy rain that has been happening I have noticed water marks in my living room on the coving near the chimney.

So I am guessing there is a problem with the flashing or similar. My Dad is a general builder now retired and he has had a look and said it looks like the roof could need pointing up as well.

I have given the council a call and they are not interested at all I just wanted some advice. So I am going to call the insurance tonight after work. I am just unsure how the process works when it is not me who took out the policy.

Any advice would be great thanks.

If your flat is leasehold and the council are the freeholders, it's their responsibility to fix the structure of the building and split the cost between you and the tenant below. This happened to my brother (NW London). Sad to say he was stuck with a huge bill, as the council insisted on using their contractors who charged the earth for shoddy work. If your dad can fix it, swallow the cost and get it done. My brother was charged £13k for works to the roof in the flat above him.

Thanks my Dads retired so I can ask him to fix it at his age now.

I had literally this exact issue.

Council are the leaseholders so of course they must repair the roof! Infact I was delighted the council were my leaseholders because they sent 2 men round the same day to fix it. We were already about to pay £3k per flat for a new roof so liability was certainly established. Phone the council back again and tell them as the leaseholder it's their responsibility.

Sorry the council own the freehold so are responsible as freeholders.