No common access to roof space?
Hi Everyone, I own a flat in a multiple-owned block in London and rainwater is entering because (as I can visually see out of the window) the roof hopper is blocked.
However, access to the roof is through a trapdoor in one of the flats and we cannot gain access as the owner is frequently away.
My query is whether the access to the roof should by law be in a common area accessible to all or not?
I don’t know, but the common area at the upper level is extremely small suggesting that the owner may have illegally extended his flat into the common area. But that is a secondary issue at the moment.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Donald
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Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 323 - Articles: 1
10:21 AM, 10th October 2024, About 2 years ago
You don’t say how many floors up he roof is.
Perhaps you can find a tradesman who can access the gutters from ground level, either with ladders or cleaning devices on very long poles.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 7
10:28 AM, 10th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Make a new access from the common area with a lock on it and screw the other access shut from the loft side.
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 181
11:34 AM, 10th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Surely this is a freeholder or managing agent issue.
Another route.
It’s becoming g an ‘energency’….
There is likley something in the lease regarding access in anemergency.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1450 - Articles: 1
3:50 PM, 10th October 2024, About 2 years ago
If the hopper is blocked then no need to access the roof space to have it unblocked.
If the freeholder, not the leaseholders, have a requirement to access the roof void and they own the roof void then they could have an access hatch made. However, the flat which does have access may have the roof void included within their title boundary. Would cost you £3 to get a plan of that flat from HMLR.
When you purchased the property you had no issues with the small common area at the upper level. Your conveyancer would have had a copy of the freehold title and plan as well as those of your flat registered at HMLR and should have reported in your Report on Title before Exchange of Contracts, the common areas of the building
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 189
7:34 AM, 12th October 2024, About 2 years ago
I have exactly this situation and you can gain access through the top flat. Have you actually asked the flat owner? It is the freeholder’s responsibility to arrange this, there’s no reason to suppose the flat has been illegally extended. If the top flat owner is away long term then you should be able to gain access in an emergency and I suggest the freeholder or agent does so. As I mentioned I have exactly this situation in a converted regency town house, after the storm a couple of weeks ago three ceilings came down and the bill is going to run up to six figures (hopefully some of which is insured but that is being discussed at present)