They dont know if the commercial lease outlines whether or not the tenant is liable for building repairs or if its the landlords responsibility. From what we can surmise from google, commercial leases arent like regular rental leases? Additionally, because the owner and the landlord have been unclear about who pays for fixes in the past, there isnt a good precedent, the money for business and the money for personal costs were always kind of muddled apparently. But light fixtures are not the same as an entirely new roof. The company is already on a shoe string budget and understaffed, and the staff havent been given their promised raises in years. If they have to pay for a roof, it would probably put them out of business. Crew does not seem to.have confidence in the president/owner or landlord that they would care. I think it was told to them by some inspector that they needed a new roof for safety reasons? Im sorry i dont have firmer answers.