Advice on survey results - asbestos roof needs replacing and other issues!

Genjo

We are in the process of buying a 1920s 3 bed semi and the building survey has come back with a few issues:
1) The main concern is that they advise the roof contains asbestos, the tiles are weathered and it is unlined and that it will need fully replacing in the next 5-10 years which they estimate to be in the region of £20K (eek!). It states if we do not replace the roof there is likely to be issues with re-selling the property...
2) there are other smaller issues: a window that has a timber lintel which needs replacing, recommendation that additional air bricks to be added to the front of the house to improve ventilation, cracking to gulley, re plastering of a crack in a wall, replacement of water tank, and some other additional smaller repairs

We offered the asking price (as there are few houses of this kind in the area and there was a lot of competition for this house) and are now wondering about dropping our price to take into account the results from the survey. We don't want to lose the house and were expecting that a property of this age would require some investment but hadn't bargained for an asbestos roof!

Can anyone offer advice on renegotiating the price in this circumstance? The asking price was £195K so we're wondering what might be a reasonable reduction given this new information? Or has anyone had an asbestos roof roof replaced and can reassure us it's not as bad as it sounds?!

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

ellie27

You can only ask to renegotiate on price due to survey results eg offer £185K.

However as there are not many houses in the area and demand for this house it is likely they will say no, take it or leave it for £195k they may easily be able to get another buyer.

Kynthia

So the roof has at least another 5-10 years in it. Being unlined isn't a problem and is fairly common, mine's unlined. What exactly contains asbestos? Tiles can be replaced. So perhaps you should get the roof examined by a professional and get them to tell you what would need doing in the future and how much it would cost you, as your surveyor is giving you the worst possible outcome to cover themselves and you.

The other stuff is minor and things you might not bother doing or would do gradually over time. So if other people are keen to buy the house at the current price the vendors might not be willing to lower it.