▲ 0 r/Roofing
Hi all, hoping for some advice from people with roofing/structural experience.
I’m in the process of buying a Victorian converted flat and just had a Level 3 survey done. The main concern flagged is the roof.
Key points from the survey:
- Active leak into the reception room (visible ceiling staining)
- Multiple missing/loose tiles
- Significant “dishing” (sagging) to the front roof slope
- Surveyor said the dishing is likely due to structural inadequacy, not just ageing
- Possible cause is previous loft conversion / heavier concrete tiles without proper strengthening
- Roof structure is concealed, so condition of timbers unknown
- Advised to get structural engineer input before purchase
- Surveyor has since clarified to me that:
- This is likely a structural issue rather than maintenance
- More substantial works may be required (removal of tiles, replacement of ridge board, adding structural timbers)
Additional context:
- Property was surveyed in 2023 and that buyer withdrew
- Issues appear not to have been fixed since
- It’s a share of freehold, so roof costs would be shared with the other flat
Questions:
- How serious does “dishing due to structural inadequacy” usually turn out to be in practice?
- Does this typically mean partial rebuild/strengthening, or could it sometimes be less invasive?
- Rough ballpark, are we talking £10k, £20k, £30k+ type territory?
- Is it common for loft conversions to cause this kind of issue if not done properly?
- Would you walk away, or proceed with a structural engineer first?
Really appreciate any input, trying to understand whether this is a manageable project or a bigger red flag.
u/BornStatistician4 — 10 days ago