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I am currently having an issue with my neighbour and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
In September/October 2017 we built an extension on the back of our property. During the construction, before getting all the felt and slates on, we had a downpour that allowed some rain past the temporary weatherproofing and caused a leak in next door's property. This caused some damage to their decor that we refunded them for (as well as for a roofer to come and fix make it all watertight). We then had a joiner come up and construct the box gutter between the properties and a roofer line the box gutter with lead and install the slates. This was the last we heard of this issue.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, we noticed a damp patch in our property below where the box gutter meets the valleys. After investigating the roof and knocking a hole at the top of our wall to see where the water was coming in, I found that the rain was getting under the slates on the valley of next door's property. Next door's roof has had no maintenance done for 40 years and the slate edges had pointing that had crumbled away (which is where the rain was getting in). In order to stop the water damage, I went round to next door and offered to repoint the slates to temporarily stop the water ingress and that she should get a roofer in to fix it all properly. They were happy for me to do this and this completely stopped the water ingress and my damp dried out almost straight away. We have had heavy rain since and no water ingress.
However, we then received a letter through our door this week stating that they had arranged a roofer to come and look at their roof as suggested and they wrote a report stating that the box gutter was poorly installed and inadequately sized. They also said they were experiencing damp issues on their side (which is the first they'd told me, even though I'd been round). As such they are raising a dispute and if we didn't reply in 7 days would be taking legal action.
I'm not sure where we stand with this? We had everything done by professionals (and have receipts and a 5 year guarantee on the box gutter lead work and slating) and it was all checked and signed off by building control in 2017. There have been no concerns raised with ourselves since this date. The leak I found has now been fixed and it was nothing to do with the box guttering so I can't claim on the guarantee as the box guttering work (or my roof) hasn't failed, same with insurance. I've spoken to the neighbour who is worried that the box gutter will cause future issues and is suggesting getting an independent surveyor to have a look at it.
My biggest issue is that my property is up for sale (which is why they've brought it up now as a dispute) so I need it resolved or won't be able to sell. However, I can't really afford to have the box gutter redone and can't claim on insurance or the guarantee as it hasn't actually leaked.
Sorry for the long read, any assistance would be extremely appreciated.
In September/October 2017 we built an extension on the back of our property. During the construction, before getting all the felt and slates on, we had a downpour that allowed some rain past the temporary weatherproofing and caused a leak in next door's property. This caused some damage to their decor that we refunded them for (as well as for a roofer to come and fix make it all watertight). We then had a joiner come up and construct the box gutter between the properties and a roofer line the box gutter with lead and install the slates. This was the last we heard of this issue.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, we noticed a damp patch in our property below where the box gutter meets the valleys. After investigating the roof and knocking a hole at the top of our wall to see where the water was coming in, I found that the rain was getting under the slates on the valley of next door's property. Next door's roof has had no maintenance done for 40 years and the slate edges had pointing that had crumbled away (which is where the rain was getting in). In order to stop the water damage, I went round to next door and offered to repoint the slates to temporarily stop the water ingress and that she should get a roofer in to fix it all properly. They were happy for me to do this and this completely stopped the water ingress and my damp dried out almost straight away. We have had heavy rain since and no water ingress.
However, we then received a letter through our door this week stating that they had arranged a roofer to come and look at their roof as suggested and they wrote a report stating that the box gutter was poorly installed and inadequately sized. They also said they were experiencing damp issues on their side (which is the first they'd told me, even though I'd been round). As such they are raising a dispute and if we didn't reply in 7 days would be taking legal action.
I'm not sure where we stand with this? We had everything done by professionals (and have receipts and a 5 year guarantee on the box gutter lead work and slating) and it was all checked and signed off by building control in 2017. There have been no concerns raised with ourselves since this date. The leak I found has now been fixed and it was nothing to do with the box guttering so I can't claim on the guarantee as the box guttering work (or my roof) hasn't failed, same with insurance. I've spoken to the neighbour who is worried that the box gutter will cause future issues and is suggesting getting an independent surveyor to have a look at it.
My biggest issue is that my property is up for sale (which is why they've brought it up now as a dispute) so I need it resolved or won't be able to sell. However, I can't really afford to have the box gutter redone and can't claim on insurance or the guarantee as it hasn't actually leaked.
Sorry for the long read, any assistance would be extremely appreciated.
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