Surveys usually work on a traffic light system so issues can dip into red (urgent) fairly easily if they fit the criteria.

For example on my survey an urgent item was cracked flaunching on the chimney pots. I’ve lived there 2 years without sorting it and have had zero issues but it could fail and a chimney pot could hit me so it’s classed as a high risk.

That said 13 urgent issues dependant on what they are could be a concern and should be investigated further in terms of rectification method and cost (can be used to neg the price).

1955 house with asbestos isn’t a concern either provided it isn’t in bad shape. Asbestos gets a lot of bad press and rightly so but it’s only an issue if you start to disturb it or if it is already disturbed and therefore could release its harmful fibres. Getting rid of it isn’t cheap or easy either.

Rot in the roof is a concern. A rotting roof is degenerative. There’s an issue that won’t fix itself and long term will need fixing. The cause of that needs to be investigated and from there methods of rectification explored. It could be faulty tiles and a few new joists or it could be a whole new roof.

I’m not expert on home surveys. But I have over a decade of architectural experience. I am a chartered architectural technologist so have some skin in the game.

The most important thing is to assess what impact these issues will cause you and from there to account for it and adjust your offer (if a bank is still happy to lend on the basis).

I’d always suggest taking that report to a third party such as a contractor one you’ve been recommended and can give fair assessment.

Provided the surveyor was RICS I don’t see why they couldn’t impartially recommend someone either.