Roofer won't fix leak in newly-installed roof

[LittleBowSheep]

I had a new roof fitted earlier this year by what I thought was a reputable company. I did a lot of research before choosing who to go with. Everything went fairly well although they did try to squeeze more cash out of me by saying my chimney stack needed repairing. Had lots of discussions and I decided the chimney stack was fine. It had not caused me any problems prior to the fit and I didn't see it needed anything doing.

The job was finished quickly and everything seemed really fine. I paid promptly but couldn't get them to provide me with a receipt or a copy of the guarantee despite numerous emails. A few weeks later, during a particularly heavy storm, we noticed there was a leak in the roof and quite a lot of water had got in. It was not where the 'damaged' chimney stack was, in fact, it was on the opposite end of the roof.

I contacted the company, they sent a bloke out who took a photo of it from ground level and the company decided that the leak was being caused by my neighbour's chimney (not the one they'd tried to fleece me on). I queried how on earth they could make that assessment from a photo taken on a mobile phone and I wanted someone to come out and find out exactly where the leak was coming from.

I got no response so I compiled an 8-page letter with photos of before and after. Zooming in on the photos it is clear that the tiles at that point have not been laid flush and the old lead flashing has been re-used and looks to be cracked in places. This is exactly at the point where the water appears to be getting in.

I set out a list of things I want done starting with an inspection of the roof to find out where the problem is. I sent the letter and got the reply 'It's your own fault for not getting your chimney stack fixed'. I'm struggling to work out how they think a chimney stack on one end of the roof can cause a leak at the other end?

So I'm looking for advice on where I stand and what to do next. I've kept my tone polite and professional but this guy is an Alpha-male Neanderthal-type and I think he will do anything to get out of fixing it. What options are open to me and where do I stand legally?

Some advice here, did you pay by bank transfer/credit card so there is some sort of proof they did work for you?

https://novellosurveyors.co.uk/2021/04/27/how-to-claim-against-a-roofer-for-poor-work.html

Do you have legal cover through your home insurance?

@ThereIsAnEchoInHere thanks for your reply.

I'm not sure about the legal cover, I'll need to check, so thanks for the tip.

I paid by bank transfer online and I have a whole lot of text messages etc from the time when the job was being done.

Does he advertise anywhere online where you can leave a review? I finally managed to get a tradesperson to rectify work, after months of being messed around and/or ignored by him, by leaving a review in which I clearly set out the facts for prospective customers to see. He contacted me within an hour of me posting the review and rectified the work the following week.

Roofers are the worst. Ive never met a straight one àcross many properties. Dodgy AF. That's not helpful to your predicament but it does seem to be a particularly fraught specialism. There are hardly any verified ones on the council's trusted trader website, for miles around.

Legal cover on home insurance is a good shout. Fingers crossed you have that. Plus a really bad review. And as much as it pains me to say this, if you have any alpha looking males around you, get them to deal. Some blokes will just never respect women. It's literally like pushing water uphill.

Also consider a small claims court action. It’s relatively easy to do if you have clear documentary proof of their estimate, offer of guarantee, full payment, and the existing problem. Ask other roofers for an estimate of their costs for sorting the shoddy work and make a claim for that amount.

Sometimes it’s the only way to get a positive response.

@ScaredSceptic I found the company through My Builder.com and due to ill-health soon after the roof was finished I never got round to giving a review.

@Radiodread I totally get your point about using another Alpha-male to deal with him. It's sad that it has to be that way. Unfortunately (in this instance only) my DH is a big softie and I'm definitely the one who's more ballsy.

@Honeysuckle16 I'll look into the small claims court, thanks.

Thanks for all your replies. All I really want is for them to come back, work out what the problem is, and fix it. That's not asking much, is it?

What a fucking colossal prick.

I hope you get it sorted, no advice from what PP have said, but you shouldn't be dealing with this.

@LittleBowSheep a private limited company can cease trading one day and open up again as a brand new company the next day with a similiar name. You have no protection against this at all.

Start a small claim NOW before they do this.

You seem to be an expert on roofing judging by your post, you told the roofer that your chimney stack was fine, you say the tried to fleece you out of money and your tone is appalling, no wonder they don’t want to come back! I bet you went for the cheapest but expected the best. Get up there and sort it out yourself seeing as you know what’s gone wrong. Not all roofers are awful, the one I know won’t touch any roof as a repair because he says he’s not trying to put some bodge job that someone else has done right! There are cowboys around, to get a proper good job it’s not cheap!

Are you the OP's dodgy roofer by any chance? 🤔

@ScaredSceptic LOL, I've just read that post and that was my first thought too 😁

There's always one keyboard warrior on each thread and this time it's @Throwncrumbs

Thank you @Simonlebonbon and @FartSock5000 for your much more considerate responses.

I've been in touch with Citizen's Advice today and they were extremely helpful. They're going to send me info about a letter I need to send to the company in respect of their contravention of the Consumer Rights Act. I feel a bit more in control again now.

What he really means is he doesn’t want repair jobs as he can make more money by doing whole roof replacements….. so he tells everyone that.