Are these patches damp or dirt?

[Gingerish]

I've noticed these dark patches under the flat roof at the back of a house we have recently viewed and I'm wondering what could be causing them. Under the flat roof is mostly kitchen units/tiled splash back.

Anyone have any ideas?

looks like damp to me

which way does the roof slope

where are the gutters

are they full of leaves

Thanks @PigletJohn

I don't know which way it slopes.

Looking at all the pictures there don't seem to be any gutters on the flat roof at all.

Front view

well the damp looks to me like water spilling off the roof and marking the wall.

I think the windowframe interferes with the running water flow.

Perhaps it was a amateur bodge poor quality build

All the houses of that style in the road have that little bit of flat roof. Some have converted them to pitched. I'm not sure if the window was always there.

So you think this is something easily remedied or is it best to walk away?

@PigletJohn

Also, looking at more of the pictures online, this is the ceiling under the flat roof in the kitchen. It looks a bit patchy when you zoom in doesn't it?

yes, it looks damp along the edge. Might possibly be condensation related in a steamy kitchen.

flat roofs are notoriously troublesome, so the neighbours who have converted to pitched probably have a more reliable and better insulated roof.

Roof is shot cost around £1200 to replace our garage flat roof recently but the joists were good and of course the walls weren't plastered

Thanks @justasking111 that's good to know.

I think there might be another damp wall at the other end too 😬

A curious absence of guttering.

I'll have to go back and have a look.

Would the wall dry out okay if the roof/guttering was sorted?

yes, but it might take a year.