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What's the worst a flat roof replacement might be on a 2 bed flat?

The 1930s smallish 2 bedroom flat I'm buying in a 4 storey block in East London has a flat roof. It's over 20 years old, maintenance has likely not been great. My surveyor had a look and said it will need repair soon - but I assume replacement must be likely within next 5 or 10 years. I'm wondering though if it could be more than just replacement of the roof covering, e.g. decking replacement.

Since it's not me but the management company who do the work on this, I think it might be hard to get a builder to do a quote, plus time is short.

What's the worst that could happen here? The decking having rotted? If that has happened - or worse, I don't know what else goes wrong - can anybody help me with a very rough guess at how much it could cost, worst case? 5k, 10k, 15k, 20k??

Very grateful for anything here!

Comments

  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 36,206 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Have you asked whether there is a sinking fund?
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    £5-6K for the scaffolding.
    £2-4K for the felt and labour
    £1-3K for the new base/wood etc
    £2K contingency
  • catgirl2
    catgirl2 Posts: 14 Forumite
    RAS wrote: »
    Have you asked whether there is a sinking fund?
    Yes, and there isn't one.
  • catgirl2
    catgirl2 Posts: 14 Forumite
    G_M wrote: »
    £5-6K for the scaffolding.
    £2-4K for the felt and labour
    £1-3K for the new base/wood etc
    £2K contingency

    Thanks G_M!

    Is this total cost or divided up so as to take into account there are four floors? The block has 4 flats per floor.
  • Gwhiz
    Gwhiz Posts: 2,322 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    catgirl2 wrote: »
    Thanks G_M!

    Is this total cost or divided up so as to take into account there are four floors? The block has 4 flats per floor.

    That will be the total cost of fixing the roof.
  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,475 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Would the other residents have that sort of money?!

    Are you sure it's equally divisible by all flats? Sometimes the top ones are responsible for the roof...

    Jx
    2024 wins: *must start comping again!*
  • catgirl2
    catgirl2 Posts: 14 Forumite
    hazyjo wrote: »
    Would the other residents have that sort of money?!
    If they don't they have a problem I guess.
    Are you sure it's equally divisible by all flats? Sometimes the top ones are responsible for the roof...

    Jx
    From past expenses, everybody is responsible for an equal fraction. Plus there's nothing in the lease about the top floor being responsible.
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