How do deal with building survey repair recommendations

sam.ssrs

I am buying my first property so no experience in this area.

The structural survey report has just come back with some recommendation for essential repairs and other repairs. There are no serious defects reported. This is a 1930 semi-detached house.

The surveyor has gives a budget of £15K for essential repairs and £30k for other repairs.

One of the things I am worried about is the recommendation to replace the roof covering and while doing that reinforce the roof frame. That looks like a big undertaking.

Should I go back to the seller and re-negotiate the offer?

Cakeguts

Why does it say that the roof frame needs to be reinforced. Is there a loft conversion?

sam.ssrs

Cakeguts wrote: »

Why does it say that the roof frame needs to be reinforced. Is there a loft conversion?

Here is the text from the report which is concerning me

Description
The pitched roof coverings comprise the original plain tiles.
There is a slight bulge to the party wall intersection which occurs due to general and roof frame settlement and slight roof spread to the side. Whilst there was no evidence of any significant defect, the frame is to be suitably reinforced etc. when the covering is replaced.
Condition
There are some occasional tile defects and there is no secondary underfelt, therefore damp ingress is inevitable and replacement is advised.
Essential Repair
The tiled pitched roof coverings are to be replaced (no secondary underfelt) in accordance with current building regulation requirements. A building notice is to be served to the local authority building control dept. Apply timber treatments to the roof frame when the covering is removed. Carry out roof frame reinforcement as is required and ensure the walls etc. are adequately anchored to the frame.

G_M

Sounds like a very cautious surveyer.

If I was the seller and you brought that to me with a request to renegotiate the price I would simply refuse (unless I was absolutely desperate to sell asap).

There are no serious defects reported.

there was no evidence of any significant defect,

the frame is to be suitably reinforced etc. when the covering is replaced.

occasional tile defects

get a man on ladder to replace 'occassional tiles"

no secondary underfelt, therefore damp ingress is inevitable

Lots of properties have no underfelt. Is there, or is there not damp ingress? If there is, why has the surveyor not highlighted it? If there is not, then there's obviously no need for underfelt (apart from modern Building Regs requirements).

I would guess that by spending a couple of hundred pounds on getting all th tiles ship-shape, the roof will last a long time. It's been there since 1930!

The pitched roof coverings comprise the original plain tiles.

FreeBear

G_M wrote: »

I would guess that by spending a couple of hundred pounds on getting all th tiles ship-shape, the roof will last a long time. It's been there since 1930!

My roof has been up from a slightly earlier date. No underfelt, and some of the tiles are showing their age. Once every ten years or so with exceptionally strong winds (think back to 1987), a handful of tiles will come loose. £50 to get someone with a ladder to fix them back in place.

Yes, the loft space can get damp during the winter, but there is plenty of ventilation (read draughts) to move the air out. No sign of rot in any of the timbers up there.