Coventry couple hit with £8,000 bill after being told house was built with ‘hole in roof’

Contractors told them the roof “was probably leaking from day one”



A Coventry couple have been left stunned after being hit with a bill of £8,000 after contractors said their dream first house together was built with a hole in the roof.

Husband and wife Stewart and Atenea Bottomley bought their three-storey house on what was a new estate in Bannerbrook Park in 2019.

But they began to notice water seeping through walls in one of their bedrooms at the beginning of lockdown last year.

The couple called out professional roofers to inspect the problem, thinking it was a leak which might cost “a couple of grand at worst” to fix.

But contractors claimed the issue stemmed from the initial build of the property as brickwork was completed too high, leaving a metal joist hanger poking into the roofing felt which water runs off, which in turn created a hole.

They were told this meant the roof was “never installed correctly and was probably leaking from day one”.

Repair works were carried out in February costing £7,812, with the couple contacting house-builders Persimmon calling for “fair compensation” after being told the issue stemmed from when it was built 13 years ago.

Mr Bottomley, 42, said: “At worst we thought it would cost a couple of grand but when we were given quotes it just became more and more.

“The roofers told us the house was never built properly and it was not just a case of wear and tear, it is the fact it has been manufactured incorrectly.

“We thought we might have a chance of getting some help as it was just outside the 10 year warranty, but Persimmon just don’t seem to want to know.

“We presumed we would have to fork out something, but when it came out it was down to bad workmanship we shouldn’t have to.”

The couple said they contacted a number of people at Persimmon but say they were told they would not be helped.

Mr Bottomley added: “We have had nothing at all from them. Not an apology.”