My husband and I purchased our first home about 26 months ago, a split-level which was built in 1960. The previous owners had vaulted the ceiling in the living room and remodelled the kitchen, creating an open concept floor plan. With recent snow accumulation on the roof, cracks developed in the drywall and ceiling. We had a structural engineer inspect and create a report. Her findings are that the roof on the left side of our split level is deficient; when the ceiling was vaulted, no ridge beam or equivalent support was installed to brace the roof. It appears the previous owners just ripped out the old 60s-era ceiling & joists and remodelled without permit or inspection. We've been advised not to let more than a few inches of snow accumulate and to reinforce the roof before next winter. The most likely fix is to tear out the ceiling from the inside and install reinforcing beams with support down to a footing.
We confirmed the permit history and found there was a permit for front porch and roof installation but there is NO permit history for the interior renovation with the city. My husband recently was diagnosed with cancer and he is out of work, so we are down to one income in the house and are not in a position to absorb the cost of repairs. What legal remedies do we have to repair our roof and make it safe? "Who" might be the defendant - the home inspector? Previous owners? Seller's realtor? Is this the type of litigation that has any hope of success, and offers the ability to pay only if we win, or might we incur big legal fees and lose anyway, on top of needing to initiate repairs?
Thank you,
Marcy
Defective remodeling
Sorry about your situation, and I wish I could give you an answer that clear things up for you. However, as I'm sure you know, you are going to have to sit down with a Massachusetts attorney, someone who specializes in real estate litigation, and discuss this matter. Most attorneys will offer a free (brief) consultation is which they can give you some ideas about how you should proceed. Based on your question, it seems possible that you may have a claim against the prior owners, possibly against the inspector, and you may be able to get your home-owner's insurance company involved. An attorney who deals with these types of issues everyday will certainly be able to give you more helpful information and perhaps suggest ways to settle the matter that do not involve expensive litigation. Good luck.