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This. When I bought our house 9 years ago, it was mostly fucked, including needing an 'iMmEdIaTe !!' complete roof replacement according to the surveyor.
The whole roof at the rear of the ridge was unlined, with heavy non-original concrete tiles weighing the sagging Victorian timbers down, and many leaks. One leak was bad enough, and had been happening for long enough, to have completely rotted away the plaster in a bedroom. It was thick with black mould under the fresh magnolia paint. Surveyor claimed it was all in danger of collapse, and recommended to walk away from the purchase.
I bought the house for below asking price, replaced a few concrete slates, re-pointed a lead valley and called it a day for the next 8 years. Cost a grand, was fine. Saved the big money for an eventual loft conversion instead.
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ectoplasmosis
Interesting.
I feel the outcome will be determined by how keen the sellers are to move.
If they have a place lined up already, and have had some buyers pull out, they will negotiate and you will be able to chip them a fair amount.
If you are the first buyers and they feel they can afford the wait, they will push as hard as they like and try and test you.
I would, personally, get in touch with the seller. Try and strike up a dialog. Going through the EA won't really work here. Also, I'd start looking for another place, a plan B, as you might need it.
FWIW, any roof over 20 years old would be classed as end of life, so don't read too much in to that on it's own. We had a similar report for ours, OG unlined Edwardian tiled roof. It's still going after a £7k service. If the wooden roof structure is fucked somehow, that's another story. So I'd be keen to find out the real condition of the structure underneath. That's a Roofer's job, but as always, it will be hard to get them in to look without the possibility of a job lined up.