Homebuyers Survey Results - Advice

trdlo09

Hi all, I hope you can help me. I just had the report for my Level 2 homebuyers survey on a 1985 terrace house. I understood most of the report (need to add sealants, improve insulation, etc.), but I'm totally ignorant when it comes to roofs and I have no idea whether the comments made should worry me or not. Both outside and inside roof were rated grade 2, so shouldn't be immediate danger, but there's a line that sounds ominous nonetheless: 

Outside - Defects such as moss growth, loose and missing ridge mortar, loose flashings to the mono pitch roof at the front of the property, metal flashings requiring repair. 
Inside - Felt lining under roof coverings is damaged in places. Repairs are now necessary. It may be that the only way to carry out the repairs effectively is for the roof to be stripped and a new lining installed.

Could you possibly tell me if any of the above need super urgent repair and how much that would cost me very roughly? Would it be any worth negotiating with the seller (wouldn't want to go there, unless you now tell me that the above sounds super dangerous and will cost me thousands and thousands)?

Would you try and discuss with the surveyor? My worry is that I still won't understand whatever they're saying about the roof!

Who would I even call to check the roof condition more in depth if I want to make sure that the roof doesn't need to be stripped (assuming that's a costly thing... again, sounds like it, but I have no idea!)

Thanks all!

LHW99

Moss growth isn't an immediate problem. Missing ridge mortar / loose flashings could let in water, but could probably be repaired by a competant roofer at not too much cost.

Roof lining - depends on what it's made of. Check in the roof space (or see photos in survey?) to see just how bad - a few small tears or half the stuff falling off onto the ceilings? A few small tears could probably be patched at least initially.

Yes, to completely change a roof lining the roof would have to be removed / replaced. But the terminology in the sentence you quote is "It may be ...." which to me sounds a bit of back covering. Do the tiles themselves look badly broken / sllipped, with evidence of leaks inside? I would say it's something to be aware of, and save up for over the next few years, in case it does have to be done (when the roof itself needs replacing). To me none of those sound immediately urgent.

Nevertheless, no harm in phoning the surveyor, and get him to explain in a bit more detail You are paying for the survey, and need to understand it's implications. Write the questions down first, and go through them one by one.

The house is coming up to 40 years old, so some things are bound to be getting worn, but that's what happens to any house.

Albermarle

The roof lining is a kind of secondary protection from minor leaks in the roof itself. However it is the roof that is much more important. Many older properties have no roof lining at all with no issues.
So for me this would not be a major issue that needed addressing urgently. I would say the repairs to the roof would be more of a priority, but also not that urgent if the roof is not actually leaking. 

trdlo09

Thank you both, your comments are very reassuring! Unfortunately, there were no pictures of the roof in the report, but I'll have a chat with the surveyor just to be sure that I haven't missed anything between the lines.

There was no mention of any leaks, so that's good. I might start with fixing the roof exterior so as to minimise any extra risk of internal leaks!