A COUNCIL has been criticised for approving work done to a roof that later leaked and cost the homeowner more than £50,000. 

Chris Harris, of Charlton-on-Otmoor, claims a building certificate given to him by Cherwell District Council for his conservatory roof was "not worth the paper it is written on".

The work – to change the materials – was carried out in August 2014 but he was forced to move out for 16 months in December when it leaked and caused damp and mould in his home. 

This month the Local Government Ombudsman ruled the council's decision "amounts to fault", but said the authority could not be made to pay for the repairs.

Mr Harris said work to fix the roof, temporary accommodation and legal fees have cost him more than £50,000. 

The 43-year-old tried to take his builder – who he declined to identify – to court but he was advised by a judge that his claim was unlikely to succeed.

Mr Harris said: "That the council can sign this work off raises the question, what is the value of its inspection?

"They signed off this work even though it was complete and utter rubbish, the certificate was not worth the paper it is written on.

"This has caused me lots of sleepless nights and has resulted in a significant financial cost. I've lost a lot of faith in the system." 

Herald Series:

  • A picture of Mr Harris' roof after the work was completed. 

The ombudsman said the work was "of poor standard and not fit for purpose",

It added: "The notes of the inspection make no reference to the roof and there is no evidence the officer inspected the roof externally.

"Photographs of the roof taken by Mr [Harris'] insurance company suggest had the officer inspected the roof properly the defective work would have been apparent."

Mr Harris said he endured "sleepless nights" during his two-year battle to hold the council responsible. 

But the ombudsman said the council could not be made to pay for the damage. "The courts have held that a council cannot be held responsible for economic loss for the cost of remedying a defect that resulted from a local authority’s failure to ensure that a building complied with the building regulations", its decision said. 

Mr Harris is now considering a legal challenge to force it to pay compensation. He has also contacted the police.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police confirmed it was investigating "a dispute between the aggrieved and the council regarding building regulations".

A spokeswoman for Cherwell District Council said it was reviewing its building control record keeping in light of the ombudsman's decision.

But she added: "A building regulations certificate is not a guarantee that all works have been done to the required standard. 

"Primary responsibility for the building work rests with those who commission it and those who do the work.

"While the council will carry out inspections in the capacity of building control, meeting the requirements of the regulations is primarily the responsibility of the builder and the property owner.

"Cherwell District Council acknowledges the findings of the Ombudsman but still maintains this is an issue between Mr Harris and his builder.

"The case law is clear that a council cannot be held liable for the cost of remedying a defect that resulted from that council not properly exercising its supervisory powers under the building regulations."