Freeholder issue, roof repair not taking responsibility/paying.

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I bought a top floor flat of a converted house 2 years ago (leasehold). Paid for a full survey to be done and no concerns were raised even though there were evidence there had previously been a leak from the roof which had caused plaster damage. My downstairs neighbor (50% freehold) has constantly complained because he has a leak in his kitchen which he initially said was due to our bathroom. I had a plumber come out and reseal bath, look at pipes and taps etc. Still downstairs had a problem and only when it rained. So it was obviously something to do with roof. As he owns 50% freehold he arranges building insurances, told me to contact insurance, massive palaver sorting it out because I wasn't on policy and he wouldn't speak to them. Kept telling me to sort it out and it was my roof. Had bad weather before Christmas, some roof tiles broke /cracked and had bad leak in hallway and leak was bad in his kitchen downstairs. Spoke to insurance, said we would need to pay for roofing specialist to come out for inspection. In the meantime I had a roofers come out to give us a quotes for repairs and was told the roof needed to be replaced. Roofers said roof had been an ongoing issue, even before we bought it, damage was severe. It gonna cost 5k to replace roof. Insurance not going to pay out due to the roof not being maintained and general wear and tear.The freehold is owed by downstairs 50% and him mum 50% who previously lived in my flat. In my lease it clearly states that the freeholders have responsibility to deal with roof repairs and we would pay half the costs. We have the money for our half and have spoken to both freeholders. Downstairs saying he doesn't have anything to do with the freehold for my flat, it's his mums & his mum is saying as she doesn't live here she not going to pay anything, basically they can't afford to pay for roof. I've tried to explain that is not how it works and quoted lease/deeds. I've booked an appointment with my solicitors which is going to cost me a bomb, I just want to make sure there is no other way round it before it costs me an arm and leg taking legal action against them which they won't be able to afford.