Mansfield homeowners who purchased former council properties through Right to Buy are being advised to establish exactly where responsibility for their roof begins and ends before arranging repairs. With many of the district’s post-war semi-detached homes now reaching the later stages of their original roof coverings’ lifespan, uncertainty over shared ownership can turn a straightforward repair into a prolonged dispute.
The warning comes from Roof Repairs Mansfield, a roofing firm covering Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse and the surrounding coalfield towns. The company says one of the most frequent causes of delay is not the condition of the roof itself, but uncertainty over who is responsible for each side.
Much of Mansfield’s housing was constructed in estates and terraces between the 1930s and 1970s, particularly around the area’s mining communities. Streets were often built to the same designs, with matching roof pitches and tiles installed at roughly the same time. When Right to Buy transferred individual homes from council ownership to private ownership, responsibility for adjoining roofs could become divided.
“You get called to a leak at number 42 and the water is tracking in under a ridge that 42 and 44 own half of each,” said Chris of Roof Repairs Mansfield. “One side is private, one side is still council. The private owner wants it done this week. The council has a repairs process and a waiting list. Nobody is being difficult. They just answer to different systems, and the water carries on coming in while that gets worked out.”
The firm’s advice is to establish ownership before requesting quotations. Homeowners should check their deeds or Land Registry title plan, then ask the roofer to quote for their section independently. The company also recommends specifying how the dividing line between the two roofs will be properly finished.
“It costs more than doing the pair together. It also means nothing you have paid for is sitting waiting on somebody else’s decision,” the firm said. A longer guide covering who owns what on Right to Buy roofs in Mansfield is also available from Roof Repairs Mansfield.
The tiles underneath
The question of ownership is becoming more pressing because many of the tiles used on these properties are now approaching the end of their useful lives. Concrete interlocking tiles, widely used on council and speculative housing from the 1950s onwards, can commonly last between 30 and 60 years.
Their deterioration is often gradual rather than sudden. The cement-rich surface can wear away, allowing the tile to become more porous. Water can then penetrate, particularly during freezing weather, while damaged sections may eventually begin to break away. Because large housing estates were frequently roofed within a relatively short period, neighbouring properties can experience similar problems at around the same time.
Census 2021 recorded 11.9% of Mansfield households as council renters, compared with 8.4% across Nottinghamshire and 8.3% across England. Properties previously sold through Right to Buy are no longer included in that council-rented figure, meaning the proportion of housing originally constructed by the local authority is considerably greater than the headline statistic indicates.
Roof Repairs Mansfield publishes guide prices for common repairs, with costs broken down according to house types found throughout the district.
The organisation homeowners can no longer find
There is another issue facing homeowners dealing with older properties, particularly where mining activity may be involved. People searching for assistance with coal mining subsidence may still look for the Coal Authority, although the organisation changed its name to the Mining Remediation Authority in November 2024.
Its responsibilities remain in place. Under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991, it is responsible for repairing properties affected by coal mining subsidence, and homeowners do not have to pay to submit a damage notice and have the claim investigated.
The last deep mines in the district closed in the early 1990s, including Sherwood Colliery at Mansfield Woodhouse in January 1992. However, ground movement associated with former workings can continue after mining has ended. Some signs may become apparent around the roof, including leaning chimney stacks, opened ridge lines, stepped cracks in brickwork and doors that begin sticking on one side of a property.
“People hear subsidence and picture the house sinking into a hole,” Chris said. “Most of what we see is a stack that has moved half an inch and taken the flashing with it. It presents as a leak. It gets repaired as a leak. And if the cause was genuinely mining related, that homeowner has paid for work the Mining Remediation Authority would have covered.”
What to check before winter
Roof Repairs Mansfield recommends homeowners inspect their roof from ground level, using binoculars if available, before carrying out a further check from inside the loft during daylight with the lights switched off.
Chimney stacks deserve particular attention. Signs such as a lean, open mortar joints or lifted lead flashing can indicate movement or deterioration. The ridge should appear straight, while a dip or step may suggest that the bedding mortar has failed.
Tiles that have changed from a smooth finish to a rough or sandy surface may have lost their protective outer layer and started absorbing more water. Grit in gutters can also be a sign that the tile surface is breaking down. Inside the loft, visible daylight through the roof covering or dark marks on rafters should be investigated before winter weather makes the problem worse.
Doorstep callers
Roof Repairs Mansfield has also repeated its advice concerning unsolicited roofing contractors who call at properties. The company says such visits can become more common following named storms.
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, a contract agreed at the door for more than £42 can carry a 14-day cancellation right. Where a trader fails to provide the required cancellation information in writing, that period can potentially be extended by up to a year.
The firm advises homeowners not to make cash payments upfront, to obtain a physical company address rather than relying solely on a mobile number, and to check the business through Companies House before agreeing to work.
Roof Repairs Mansfield says it has completed more than 1,000 roof repairs and provides a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
