East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Chailey, East Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Chailey. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- A chimney out of line
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
Chimney survey in Chailey: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you are worried about mortar washing out of the joints and damp patches on chimney breasts, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Chailey (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about chimney surveys in Chailey
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Plumpton station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Do you cover smaller places like Chailey?
Yes, Chailey is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from ground level, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The report follows by email.
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The size of the roof
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The kind of building and roof involved
To get a price for chimney surveys in Chailey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Chailey can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Leave it or get it looked at?
Damp in a chimney breast normally gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it is the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. Older cottages and farmhouses around Chailey can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chailey
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Prices that include VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
What we can’t see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Chailey
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you own a rental within reach of Plumpton station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Take a building like Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Peter, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Chailey is about 5 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Chailey and the rest of East Sussex. Chailey is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. There’s also a page for Brighton.
We cover every part of the BN8 postcode area for chimney surveys. We also cover the places around Chailey: North Chailey (1 mile north), South Street (1 mile south-west), Newick (1 mile north-east), Founthill (1 mile east) and South Chailey (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (12 miles south).
Near you in Chailey
In Chailey, that means homes and buildings near Chailey School, The Five Bells Inn and Chailey Heritage School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Plumpton station, about 3.1 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Princess Royal Hospital (4.1 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Blackcap and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
Towns and villages near Chailey
More services for Chailey
Landlords, agents and block managers in Chailey
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.