How the hell am I supposed to pay this

[Netheip]

Roof is in a bad state. Not actually leaking yet but there’s broken tiles and it’s old. Had three quotes and it’s basically going to cost around 10k to re do.

I am so stressed. I‘m a single parent and have 3k savings. I am saving more each month around 300.

My mum has said she will give me 2k. But that still leaves 5k left. And then I will have no savings. I just feel so shit. I thought I was getting on top of things this year and now this.

It’s often possible to get a home improvement loan or remortgage to release money for bigger jobs like that. Could that be an option for you?

@Chicagodog I have looked. It seems so expensive to borrow on the mortgage and things are tight

As a PP said, I'd explore how much it would cost to release some money by way of the mortgage.

Another alternative would be to see if you can get a credit card - lots of companies offer a 0% interest rate for two years. Now you might not be able to pay the roofer with this but you could use it for every day spending and funnel everything you can towards the roofing costs.

This could cost you less in interest than a remortgage - I would weigh up the pros and cons carefully.

I’d explore borrowing more on your mortgage. We have just done this for a roof.

Another thought is that if the roof has been damaged by recent weather, would insurance cover it?

Alternatively, could you explain to the roofers and ask them for a revised quote that only covers what absolutely must be done right now to keep it going until you can afford a full refurb?

£10k seems to suggest some quite substantial repairs - that may need doing long term but ask about what really needs doing right now to keep the house dry and watertight. Then you can save towards the main repair.

I know a patch job isn't ideal, but it could be a solution.

Op, if it doesn’t leak, do you need to have it replaced now?
When I moved into my house my roof was also VERY old. I stressed like mad about the need to replace it straight away. Three years later, I managed to save the money I need to replace the roof…but I won’t do it yet because it doesn’t leak.

You said then you will have no savings. So you can afford it, you just don’t want to use your savings???

Isn’t that the kind of thing savings are for?

I agree that first consider if any of it can be covered by insurance. Then see what grants your local council is offering. It might have to be a remortgage.

Have you had more than one person look at it? Obviously rooves do sometimes need work, but my friend had someone tell her the roof needed £££££ and when she asked 2 more builders to quote they said it was fine.

Broken tiles can be replaced without it being a major job.

Im so sorry. It’s tough to save at the best of times and it’s just a kick in the teeth when something like this happens and you were just starting to build some financial resilience. I totally get why - with a sole income - you would be potentially more concerned with running down your reserves to zero. Just wanted to send some support and empathy.

dependjng on where you are located - eg if Scotland there can sometimes be options such as support for energy efficiency improvements or options to tap into statutory repairs grants if it’s a listed, shared ownership property. Might be worth a chat with citizens advice or energy savings trust. Good luck and keep doing what you’re doing. You are doing everything that you can

Read the posts again Garry

That sounds very expensive.
How many quotes have you had?
Get some more quotes. Ask for minimum repair to make good. . Do you know anyone with a connection to a roofer or builder to ask an honest opinion?

That isn't what she said.

If it's not leaking yet then don't panic. Broken tiles can be replaced individually so ask about to see if it can be patched rather than re-roofed entirely although having to have scaffolding for H&S does add to the cost considerably. Just because it is old doesn't mean it needs replacing. My previous house had a 110yr roof with only three tiles replaced, it was perfectly fine.

Haven't read the thread but wanted to say when our roof was leaking we had quotes from 10k to 25k. They all wanted to do new roof for their own profit. Thankfully my brother's friend was a retired roofer and I asked him to give his professional opinion. It just needed repairing, which he offered to do, cost about 3k in the end. If you know anyone who knows anyone who could get up there to give an objective opnion, even if you have to pay for scaffolding hire, I'd start there. Even if we had a new roof it might not have solved our problem because of pitch height... but no one mentioned that. Hope you get sorted.

Get a few more quotes. Even a few grand less on another quote could be helpful.

I would also go for patching it up.

Take it from someone who’s had many old houses and many very old roofs that shed tiles.

It’s not leaking. You have a few slipped and broken tiles. You don’t have the money. Get a roofer to patch up all the current damage and aim for re-roof another time. Will probably cost between £1-2k depending on size of roof and if scaffolding needed.

I imagine its slipped tiles, I had the same issue it was raining inside. Few bits needed repointing & a few tiles needed moving back into position, cost 1k.

Doesn't sound like reroofing is required yet. I would get a few more people in to have a look but ask a male friend or neighbour to be there in your place. Might be cynical but having had a lot of building work done recently, I know that some tradespeople (not all) treat women differently if there isn't a man around. My husband got very different responses. Just my experience.

As others have said it can probably just be patched, you dont need "a whole new roof". I know someone who had similar, they asked around for more quotes, eventually found someone who replaced tiles for a couple of grand. Roof is now fine, no leaks.

Would insurance cover it - does anyone know? If you phoned the insurance company & say it happened during a recent bout of bad weather, wouldn’t they stump up?

Patching it up can be more expensive in the long run. I would get some more quotes but I paid 7.5k for a new roof about 8 years ago on a 4 bedroomed house. A roof is an important part of the house. I see people getting other home improvements and they have a roof that is sagging with broken tiles - madness.

Also it might not leak but the timbers can become damaged and then that can be very costly to repair.

I would try to find someone who is practical to have a look and be there when you get the quote. As it may not need replacing.