If you’re buying a house, chasing a leak or wondering whether an old roof has a few more winters left in it, the cost of a survey is a fair first question. The honest answer is that it depends on the roof and on how much you need to know. A quick look at a small terrace roof is a very different job from a full inspection of a large flat roof on an office block.
This guide sets out what we charge, what each of our packages includes and what moves the price up or down. It also quotes the ranges that two well-known UK cost guides publish, so you can see how prices compare across the market. Those are other companies’ figures, not ours.
Our three survey packages
All our prices include VAT and are shown as “from” prices. The final figure depends on the roof, and we confirm it with you before anything is booked.
| Package | Price (inc. VAT) | What’s included | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Survey | from £150 | Visual inspection, basic condition report, photographs, written recommendations, report emailed | Within 48 hours |
| Standard Survey | from £250 | Comprehensive inspection, detailed report with photos, moisture detection, structural check, follow-up consultation | 24–48 hours |
| Premium Survey | from £400 | Full inspection, thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis, in-person consultation, 12-month follow-up review | Same day |
You’ll find the same table on our pricing page, and a fuller list of what we look at on the page about what our survey covers.
Which package suits which job
- Basic Survey. A good fit when the roof is fairly simple and you want a clear, written picture of its condition. For example, you’ve spotted a couple of slipped slates and want to know whether they’re a one-off or a sign of something wider.
- Standard Survey. Suits most buyers and most owners worried about damp. Moisture detection helps separate an active leak from an old, dry stain. The follow-up consultation means you can ask questions once you’ve read the report.
- Premium Survey. Suits roofs that are hard to see well from the ground or the loft, such as tall, steep or large roofs. It adds thermal imaging and a drone inspection where applicable, and the report comes the same day. That helps when an exchange date is close.
Some services are priced on their own. A drone roof survey and a thermal roof survey start from £400. Electronic leak detection is quoted for your roof, and so are larger commercial flat roofs.
What changes the price
These are the things that move a roof survey price on almost every job:
- Size and shape. A simple pitched roof takes less time than one with several slopes, valleys, dormers and chimneys.
- How many roofs there are. A Victorian terrace often has a main roof, a rear addition with its own small roof and perhaps a bay. Each one needs looking at.
- Height and access. We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there’s safe access, and by drone where applicable. Tall or tightly packed buildings can take longer.
- The question you need answered. Tracing one leak is a different job from reporting on a whole roof.
- Extra methods. Moisture detection, thermal imaging and drone photographs all add time on site and in the report.
- The type of building. Time on site is usually about 1–2 hours for a house and 3–4 hours for a commercial roof. Larger or complex roofs take longer.
- How fast you need the report. Premium reports come the same day; Basic reports within 48 hours.
Want a roof surveyed? We cover London and the South East, with written reports and photos from £150 including VAT. Book a survey or call 07833 053749.
What published UK cost guides say
It helps to see what other sources say about the wider market. These are the ranges we found when we checked two UK cost guides in October 2026:
| Source | Type of survey | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Checkatrade roof inspection cost guide (excluding VAT) | Roof inspection | about £250 |
| Full roof survey | £300–£500 | |
| Drone roof survey | about £200 | |
| Flat roof inspection | from £150 | |
| MyJobQuote roof survey costs | Basic survey | £100–£200 |
| Full survey | £250–£400 | |
| Thermal survey | £300–£500 |
Checkatrade’s figures exclude VAT, so the amount you’d actually pay is higher once VAT is added. Ours include it. When you compare any quotes, check whether VAT is in the figure, and check that the jobs being priced are really the same job.
Why the lowest price isn’t always the best value
Two surveys at different prices are often two different jobs. Before you book anyone, ask:
- How will the roof be inspected, and which parts can be seen?
- Will the roof space be checked where there’s safe access?
- Will you get photographs and written recommendations, or just a verbal summary?
- How quickly will the report arrive, and can you ask questions afterwards?
- Is the surveyor independent of anyone quoting for the repair work?
- Do they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance? We do.
It also helps to know what any roof survey can’t do. Our survey is a specialist roof survey. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey, and it isn’t a structural engineer’s report. It can’t see under slates, tiles or membranes without opening them up.
Is a roof survey worth the money?
A survey doesn’t mend anything. What it gives you is information, in writing, at the point when you need to make a decision. For a buyer, that might be whether to ask the seller about the roof before exchange. Our guides on whether you need a roof survey when buying and using a roof report to negotiate cover that in more detail.
For an owner, a report can show which defects need attention now and which can wait. That makes it easier to brief roofers and compare their quotes. For landlords and managing agents, a landlord roof survey gives a record of condition to plan maintenance around. If water is already coming in, a roof leak investigation is usually the better starting point.
Getting a price from us
We survey roofs across London and South East England, on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
To get a price, call 07833 053749 or contact us online. Tell us the address, the type of property, what’s worrying you and any deadline, such as an exchange date. A few photos of the roof from the street or garden help too. We’ll suggest the package that fits and confirm the price before booking.
Quick answers
How much does a roof survey cost with you?
Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. All prices include VAT.
Do your prices include VAT?
Yes. Every price we publish includes VAT and is shown as a “from” price.
Is a drone inspection extra?
A drone inspection where applicable is part of the Premium Survey. A separate drone roof survey starts from £400.
Why do online cost guides show different figures?
They are averages from different sources, for jobs of different sizes. Some, like Checkatrade’s, exclude VAT.
Related services
More advice
- What Does a Roof Survey Include?
- Do I Need a Roof Survey When Buying a House?
- Roof Survey vs RICS Level 2 and Level 3 Surveys
- Drone Roof Surveys: What They Show and Miss
- All advice
This guide is general information about roofs and roof surveys. It isn’t legal, insurance or structural engineering advice; for those, speak to a suitably qualified professional.