Can my duplex neighbor in PA force me to replace the roof if I don’t agree?
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Can my duplex neighbor in PA force me to replace the roof if I don’t agree?
My wife and I own a duplex in Pennsylvania. We share a roof with our next door neighbor. We don’t belong to a homeowners association. When we bought the house 1.5 years ago, we did an inspection and we were told our roof was in good condition and it would be good for the next 20 years. It was only replaced 8 years ago. Currently, my neighbor is having their side of the roof leak. However, we are not experiencing any leaks on our side. My neighbor said they brought in a contractor who is recommending we replace the whole thing. My neighbor wants to replace the whole thing, but since our side is not leaking, we are not in agreement. Can my neighbor force us to repair if we don’t consent?
Asked on July 27, 2018 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
No, they cannot force you to spend money or replace your side of the roof if you don't want to: your side of the duplex is your property, and they can't force you to change, repair or spend money on your property if you do not want to do so. If you can get a particualrly good deal on having the whole roof done, you may wish to consider doing this, but they can't compel you to.
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