Hi, I am looking for some advice on a problem i have with my upstairs neighbours balcony / my bathroom ceiling. The balcony joists on one side have rotted and have dropped by 110mm, it is only the thickness of the roof that has jammed it in place preventing it from completely collapsing. Some of the panels to the balcony are also rotten
The problem we are having is that it is a flying freehold and the way i see it is that the roof is severed medially (cut in the middle) ie we are both responsible for the joists but are individually responsible for the 'skins' either side. His point of view is if he can't 'see' it, it is nothing to do with him. Either way it is his lack of maintenance that has caused the problem. I have offered to pay equal cost to replace the joists and as a neighbourly gesture do the donkey work in uplifting his decking and the current balcony covering including the marine ply take out the joists refit new joists and (the cost of the materials his) marine ply but the actual water tight covering should be done by a professional. I would supply and fit the insulation and the fibre board under the joists, and i have to say i think i am being generous.
I want to keep the solicitors out of this and i don't have buildings ins ( i have previously but whenever i made a claim always got fobbed off) , so the next best thing i can think off is to get some kind of 'report' on the state of the structure and what would be the best way to repair the balcony, i have tried once to get loss adjusters( on an unrelated incident) to come and do their thing, but all of them said they only work for insurance companies. Any suggestions ?
