Neighbour won't fix roof

[prettyLittlefool]

Background. Neighbour and us in terraced house. I recently noticed neighbours roof has a tile missing and several other broken tile parts across roof.
I spoke to the young couple who live there expecting them to urgently repair the roof but to my surprise they state they don't think it's work spending money on just a few broken tiles. I tried to explain they have water entering their loft but they insist it's no big deal. They don't rent, they have bought this place but seem a bit clueless to the severity of this.
Am I over reacting? Could this affect my home 5 foot away from the hole in their roof ?

No.

Yes, it could affect you. Water can enter in one place, run along or down the inside of the roof and cause problems elsewhere. Sometimes its a bit of a puzzle how/where water is getting in. At least if you have a problem you will already have an idea where its coming from. Replacing a few tiles isn't expensive, if worst comes to worst you can get it fixed for them.

What does the age of the couple have to do with it?

Why do you think your thoughts on the roof necessitated urgent action from them?

You sound like you could be a nightmare to live next door to.

Unless it is a shared roof or a shared gutter between roof slopes, then no, it's unlikely to affect you.

Keep an eye out for damp patches but otherwise it isn't really your concern.

Hoping to learn about rooves here.
Terrace house and neighbour going to have all roof done. Our tiles are linked.
Hoping not to have ours done as likely to repair a tile at a time rather than reroof as reroofing expensive.
However, a tile missing would get me getting quotes for myself or at least checking in the loft for a leak. Have your neighbours said they have no leak?

I doubt it would affect your property but if tiles are loose, one could come off the roof during heavy wind and hit someone. My neighbour kindly repaired/replaced a couple of ours a few years back, we hadn't even noticed!

They might not be able to afford to replace them right now.

My thoughts are that with an 8 inch square hole directly into the loft that every time it rains there will be water running into the loft space. I asked if they had checked for a leak but they say they have never been in the loft.
To me It doesn't seem like something you can just ignore whether you can afford it or not

But OP, if it's a hole in their roof, and rain getting into their loft, why are you worried?

Eventually they will have damp rot in their upstairs ceiling and will have to repair both but that is their issue.

They may be facing furlough/redundancy and struggling financially. Leaving repairs until their finances improve may be their only choice and you pressurising them will only make them more stressed.

I'd be concerned too, water will be getting through and it can travel surprisingly far.

Can you have another chat with them and explain that this seemingly small issue could turn into a rather large one, and you can take a look/get in touch with a roofer on their behalf? Perhaps they're unsure of what to do and sticking their heads in the sand!

But yeah, I wouldn't want to leave it. Water is one of the worst damage culprits.

@Garlia

I'd be concerned too, water will be getting through and it can travel surprisingly far.

Can you have another chat with them and explain that this seemingly small issue could turn into a rather large one, and you can take a look/get in touch with a roofer on their behalf? Perhaps they're unsure of what to do and sticking their heads in the sand!

But yeah, I wouldn't want to leave it. Water is one of the worst damage culprits.

Thanks. I'll do this.

Presumably they have (waterproof) roofing felt / underlay between the tiles and the loft, rather than as stated 'an 8 inch hole directly into the loft' though?

In which case it still needs fixing at some point but not quite with the urgency the OP suggests?

Below the tiles is roof membrane which is second line of defence and should send rain to the gutter if it is without holes (which is usually the case).
However, as willdoitlater said water can track along surprising routes sometimes so there are no guarantees it won't affect you or behave predictably. It depends on the roof construction and if the various components are protecting as they should. Obviously the first line of defence is breached, the second may take care of it, or may not.
If damp does get into their loft and the ventilation there is insufficient to dry out whatever comes in within a few months mould will grow on any timbers (unless they are treated with a very good anti-fungal biocide). There are various species of fungus all eat the wood they grow on which ultimately threatens the structure of the house eventually. Some species can only grow while the wood is wet this is called wet mould. Some species, once established create their own moisture from the digestion process of the mould and then it will grow even once the source of moisture is removed. This is called dry mould.
Dry mould is extremely serious, it's root system can extend into brick and if left long enough can become beyond treatment. Once it's roots system is established if caught early enough a good fungicide can treat it but would probably need professional intervention.

So, in a nutshell this is not a panic stations situation, but any home owner who doesn't take protecting their home against uncontrolled water ingress is inviting trouble. As you are attached this does (eventually, worst case scenario) have the potential to become your problem.
I build so I know some of what I'm talking about. When I was a first time buyer in my twenties I would not have had the experience to take this particularly seriously, so their age/experience is relevant.
I don't think you should take a hard line or try to lean on them, it will sour relations and make them close their ears to you.
I would keep things friendly, be sympathetic to their circumstances inwardly (finances etc), perhaps ask them to hear your concerns re mould and all them to Google it and maybe keep an eye on their loft (this kind of conversation only possible if you are cordial and friendly).

@RealisticSketch - that is an amazingly informative and helpful post. Thank you for taking the time to map it all out. I've just had a new roof put in and now I understand better what was involved.

I wouldn't mention it again. You'll just come across as interfering and odd if you keep going on about it. And possibly patronising.

A terrace is effectively one building. Each home owner might own one slice of it but mould neither knows not cares about that. So I respectfully disagree with yousoupdragon. That said, the way you handle your interest matters, you want to be delicate and respectful to not hammering on the door at 4am in a panic cos it's raining... And that way you avoid being odd or patronising.

None of your business. It’s their property and they can make their own decisions. No sure why you had to mention their ages

Alfonsotheterrible glad you found it helpful, thanks.

@RealisticSketch thanks for that informative answer. It answered all the questions I didn't even know I wanted to know. Thank you.

To me It doesn't seem like something you can just ignore whether you can afford it or not
Sorry if this comes across as stroppy as I don't mean it to but if they are genuinely skint then what can they do?

@RealisticSketch
You made me laugh when your post said "I build" as I was thinking for a minute "how don't I know this stuff".

Thanks for the informative post.

@StarCat2020

To me It doesn't seem like something you can just ignore whether you can afford it or not Sorry if this comes across as stroppy as I don't mean it to but if they are genuinely skint then what can they do?

Try and claim on home insurance / credit card / borrow. You'd find a way if it meant avoiding heavily damaging the biggest investment of your life.

If they ignore it they probably won't be covered by insurance for damage later on.

By not repairing it they are cancelling the insurance as the property is not in a good state of repair. The reality is replacing roof tiles is quite cheap.