Snowstorm turned ice = leaking roof!!
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
March 14, 2017 8:59am CST
I was enjoying not having to get up today because of the "blizzard", but I felt a drop of water hit me and realized that my drooling cat was near my feet, so it wasn't her. I looked up and saw that my ceiling was leaking. Then I saw that it was leaking over an area at least 8' long, including on to my clothes which hang from a rack attached to the ceiling (old house - no closets).
I scrambled to find things to catch the water in (still need to take some upstairs) and came downstairs to call the landlords. The answer? "I don't know what to tell you. There's nothing I can do until it all melts." Meanwhile, the weight of all that snow and ice on our flat roof is adding to the leaking into my room and on to my bed and clothing. I need to move my antique rocker (or cover it in plastic), too.
I'm pretty annoyed about this right now, I have to admit. What would you do if you were told there was nothing that could be done if your roof sprang a leak?
9 people like this
9 responses
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
6 Dec 17
They did have someone put sealant on the roof, but they only spot-treated it, so unless we have another freeze, we don't know if those were the exact spots where the water came through. We can only see on my ceiling, but that doesn't mean the water came in exactly over those spots. All we can do is wait. And, no, it's not fun having to rush around finding things that water can drip into even as you're trying to move things out of the way while more spots are beginning to drip. It was very unnerving - didn't know if the roof was caving in or what.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 Mar 17
What about moving? Not always easy to deal with something like this. What are you thinking you should do next?
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
15 Mar 17
My daughter is trying to buy the house - but we want any defects discovered fixed before she does. This one appeared naturally without a building inspector. I know they'll tar the roof, but we want to be sure the structural integrity is there. The house is 136 years old.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
15 Mar 17
@PatZAnthony There are no shingles. It's a flat roof. You can walk on it without being afraid of sliding down. No slope at all.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 Mar 17
@jerzgirl We live in an older house. There are always issues. Can they add new shingles rather than just tar it?
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
15 Mar 17
my husband's friend sprung leaks today too..he said he had buckets out.
yea,we had a leak near the flashing of a chimney once-of course on sunday when we couldn't get nobody..all i could do was keep toweling it wasn't quite bucketable..
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
17 Mar 17
Hmm I would so see if there was some thing the landlords would actually be required to do in this situation. If a roof is leaking them someone needs to get a ladder and shovel the roof off over the spots that are leaking. If the roof caves in there or something and you are hurt you can sue them so they really should be thinking about that..
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Mar 17
I would probably withhold the rent until it was repaired and I received compensation for anything damaged and I would be looking for a new rental unit.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
15 Mar 17
There probably isn't much the landlord can do if the roof is all ice. I'd just make sure to move as many of your things away son they don't get ruined. Hopefully the landlord will compensate you for the inconvenience
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Mar 17
I'm so sorry. Some landlords are awful like that. If you know anyone that can put a tarp on it that will help until the landlord does something about the leak.
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
14 Mar 17
I would be very upset. He can have the snow removed from the roof in order to do a repair. He just doesn't want to bother. If he waits until it all melts there will be more damage because it will keep leaking as the snow melts. You have rights as a tenant. I would look into it more and take whatever steps you need to have him address the problem before the roof does collapse.
