Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bromley, Greater London
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Bromley? We carry out chimney surveys in Bromley and across Greater London, with plain-English findings.
- A chimney out of line
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
How a chimney survey works in Bromley
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. If you’ve noticed loose, cracked or missing pots and spalled or crumbling bricks, we can find out what’s behind it.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. If your home in Bromley has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Bromley (E3, E14, E15)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bromley
The wider area around Bromley has a long history of building, with Sutton House about 2.2 miles north-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Agnes RC Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Stratford Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Bromley is about 2 miles east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. We cover Bromley and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Greater London.
Chimney surveys in E3, E14 and E15 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets like Bow Road, Bruce Road and Edgar Road. Other places close to Bromley include Three Mills (1 mile north-east), Mill Meads (1 mile north-east), Bow Common (1 mile south-west), Mile End (1 mile west) and Bow (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Shoreditch (3 miles west).
Near you in Bromley
Around Bromley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Bob's Park, East London Arts & Music and Bow School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is West Ham station, about 1 mile east. Other landmarks nearby include Tower of London (2.8 miles south-west) and Stratford Centre (1.4 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Old Ford Island and Tower Hill.
Also near Bromley
Other services in Bromley
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Conditions inside walls
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
When to book a survey in Bromley
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- A chimney out of line
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Living close to Bob's Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
FAQs for Bromley
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bromley?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Bromley?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend, by urgency where it matters. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Bromley and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens on the day
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. For a visit in Bromley, parking and access are the things to plan: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. On the day, the roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know where you stand. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Useful tips for Bromley property owners
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.