Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in City of Westminster, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for City of Westminster and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Chimney survey in City of Westminster: what you get
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. Common reasons to book are unused flues sealed without airflow and loose, cracked or missing pots, across brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, so roofs are often shared between several households. Landlords, managing agents and residents’ companies need to know what condition it is in and what work is coming up. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photos.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- City of Westminster (W2, NW8, W9, SW1V)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Roof area
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Booking your survey
We will normally ask about:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Towns and villages near City of Westminster
Also in City of Westminster
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Landlords, agents and block managers in City of Westminster
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
How the survey works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents as you book.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
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What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a close look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in City of Westminster
Handel Hendrix House, about 0.3 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around City of Westminster. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you run a business near Kingly Court, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you own a rental within reach of Bond Street station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Vincent's Catholic Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
City of Westminster is about 3 miles west of London, in Greater London. In City of Westminster, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. City of Westminster is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in W2, NW8, W9 and SW1V work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on Portman Square, Grosvenor Square and Cavendish Square. City of Westminster is on the A4 and A5, which makes it simple to reach. If you are just outside City of Westminster, we cover Marylebone (1 mile north-east), Mayfair (1 mile south-east), Tyburn (1 mile west), Burlington Estate (1 mile south-east) and Connaught Village (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include London (3 miles south-east), Shoreditch (3 miles east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Whitechapel (4 miles east) and Hampstead (3 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Greater London, City of Westminster has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Local landmarks in City of Westminster
We work in homes and buildings around LITE Regal International School, Royal Society of Medicine Library and Devonshire Arms and the streets around them. You’ll also find The St Marylebone CofE School (0.5 miles north) and Hyde Park (0.6 miles south-west). City of Westminster has its own railway station: Bond Street station. Other landmarks nearby include Dunhill Museum & Archive (within half a mile north) and Kingly Court (0.6 miles east). The countryside around City of Westminster includes Serpentine and Primrose Hill.
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
City of Westminster questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in City of Westminster?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Can a landlord with a rental near Bond Street station book a roof survey?
Yes, that is a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.