Previous Owners Liable for Roof Repair

[Jaydin Perez]

Good evening everyone, 

I wanted to pick your brains for insight, and see if maybe anyone else has been in this type of situation before.

We bought our first multifamily in Fort Walton Beach about two years ago. This property was advertised as being remodeled, and a new roof being installed. During before the closing, the previous owners were able to have a contractor replace the roof, but we found out recently that they never pulled a permit for the repair (I should have checked to see if the permit was pulled before I bought the property) ( -_-). 

As of last week, our roof has a small leak, and it is the unit that I currently househack. We are getting quotes on the roof repair from multiple contractors- and all the prices are hitting around the $10,000+ mark. All the contractors are saying that the roof was not correctly installed. Thankfully, we have some savings built up for CapX repairs, but it will be taking a sizeable amount of everything we earned on the property so far (not taking into account tax deductions, appreciation, loan paydown).  

Are the previous owners or the contractor liable for the roof not being adequately repaired or the permits being pulled, or does it still fall on us since we still bought the property and lived in it for two years?

I appreciate your responses and time in advance!!

[Matt M.]

Quote from @Jaydin Perez:

Good evening everyone, 

I wanted to pick your brains for insight, and see if maybe anyone else has been in this type of situation before.

We bought our first multifamily in Fort Walton Beach about two years ago. This property was advertised as being remodeled, and a new roof being installed. During before the closing, the previous owners were able to have a contractor replace the roof, but we found out recently that they never pulled a permit for the repair (I should have checked to see if the permit was pulled before I bought the property) ( -_-). 

As of last week, our roof has a small leak, and it is the unit that I currently househack. We are getting quotes on the roof repair from multiple contractors- and all the prices are hitting around the $10,000+ mark. All the contractors are saying that the roof was not correctly installed. Thankfully, we have some savings built up for CapX repairs, but it will be taking a sizeable amount of everything we earned on the property so far (not taking into account tax deductions, appreciation, loan paydown).  

Are the previous owners or the contractor liable for the roof not being adequately repaired or the permits being pulled, or does it still fall on us since we still bought the property and lived in it for two years?

I appreciate your responses and time in advance!!

 I’m going to say it’s on you.  You can’t hold the contractor liable as you aren’t the one who hired and paid them. And this property was bought two years ago. So, sucks but it’s on you.