Neighbour’s new roof not flush

[Terraced]

98801010-A5D6-417E-B0D9-FBB44592792B

• Terraced
• 12 Jul 2018

0A6458F2-253C-49F4-A514-537EEFA181DC

• Terraced
• 12 Jul 2018

My neighbours are building a big extension and are replacing the roof.
It is not finished but is not flush where it meets mine. It is sitting higher.
Am I right to be worried and what should I do?

 

[Mottie]

Looking at the flashing around your chimney, it looks like your roof could have dropped. Either way, that’s going to leak like a sieve. Can’t you ask them what’s happening - surely they’ve seen it and/or their builder must have mentioned it to them.

 

[bobsuerita]

I would say some one has effed up looking at the way the roof has been raised on too them noggins to the left doesn't even look like there is a wall plate either and that plumb cut is not plumb
Good luck with that mess next door

 

[^woody^]

Does it (the extension) have planing permission? Looks like it breaches the 45° rule.

The raising of the roofline would need planning permission.

 

[^woody^]

Looking at the flashing around your chimney, it looks like your roof could have dropped

WTF? how is that roof going to drop.

 

[Terraced]

OMG! Now I am scared.
Have got on to local planning and sent them the pictures

 

[Alastairreid]

Your roof has not dropped the adjoining roof has been set on different sized battens by the looks of it. the lead has been lifted to fit the tiles.
there is still a full row of tiles to be fitted on your neighbours to bring it to the party wall so would assume they will be installing a proper abutment..there are different types.

Do you have sarking boards on your roof? if you do they have probably installed counter battens which would create a height difference like that.

 

[Terraced]

Your roof has not dropped the adjoining roof has been set on different sized battens by the looks of it. the lead has been lifted to fit the tiles.
there is still a full row of tiles to be fitted on your neighbours to bring it to the party wall so would assume they will be installing a proper abutment..there are different types.

Do you have sarking boards on your roof? if you do they have probably installed counter battens which would create a height difference like that.

Thanks for your reply.
Do you think that they can make a proper join that will cover this gap they have created? With no long term danger to my roof?

 

[datarebal]

Yours is as it was.
The neighbours has been off and pitch altered probably with new rafters of a bigger size and this has not been taken into account. hence the pitch change.
It does look a bit of a mess up. Be concerned about how they weather theirs to yours.
Generally looking at the pictures looking shoddy.

 

[Alastairreid]

Do you think that they can make a proper join that will cover this gap they have created? With no long term danger to my roof?

Yes, google bonding gutters.

 

[datarebal]

Doubt they will work tidily in this situation.

 

[Terraced]

Thanks for all your replies.
It won’t surprise you that they did not offer me a party wall agreement.
Do you think I will need to go down the legal route to get this sorted properly?

 

[foxhole]

Looks a right mucking fuddle.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

That looks rubbish. For whatever reason (not important here) they've changed the roof pitch- no idea why, looks as if there was a perfectly adequate overhang. They've damaged the flashing round the (shared) chimney and appear to have done nothing to weather the joint they've created between their new roof and your existing roof.
Have you checked your local councils' website- I suspect they won't have planning permission 'cos if they'd applied for PP you'd have got a letter. Also get onto your local council's building control section- see if they are aware of the works (which are definitely notifiable)- they might have engaged a private inspector or they might not have bothered with building regs at all.
Bonding gutter won't work well with differing pitches- great big lead Z section will work but there's no sign of one and it should have been done before the tiles were put on.
Do you know your neighbours? If so then talk to them, if not then hopefully the council will put a hold on the job, otherwise yes you're into legal territory, injunctions and all sorts of scary expensive stuff

 

[Terraced]

Thanks oldbutnotdead.
Yes they have permission but have little regard for building regs. They also removed an upstairs chimney breast without informing me or the council.
Even their own architect said they should appoint a party wall surveyor but they ignored him.

I contacted planning and building control yesterday. Building control has been outsourced and not very responsive. I will chase up today.
Also contacted neighbour - no response.
I have legal cover through my home insurance but was hoping to avoid that.