Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Kennington, Greater London
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Kennington. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Chimney survey in Kennington: 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 signs that a stack is leaning and eroded joints in the brickwork, across chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
London has Victorian and Edwardian terraces in almost every borough, many with Welsh slate roofs, shared chimney stacks and parapet or valley gutters. Slates can last a century or more, but the nails holding them corrode, and slates slip. Homes in Kennington are no exception. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a proper look too.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Kennington (SW8, SW1P, SE11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys around Kennington
About 1.7 miles north-west lies Buckingham Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Kennington has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, 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. 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. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Calvary Church of God in Christ, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Landlords with a home close to Vauxhall station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Kennington is about 2 miles south-west of London, in Greater London. Surveys in Kennington work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
All of SW8, SW1P and SE11 is covered for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Kay Road, Lett Road and Rita Road. You’ll find Kennington on the A203 and A3204, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover Oval (1 mile north), South Lambeth (1 mile south-west), Little Portugal (1 mile south), North Brixton (1 mile south-east) and Vauxhall (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as City of Westminster (3 miles north-west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (4 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles north), Shoreditch (4 miles north-east) and Walthamstow (8 miles north-east).
Around Kennington
Around Kennington, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St Peter's School, Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School and Lambeth Palace Library, among other places. Nearby too are Crown and Thistle pub (under half a mile south-west) and Vauxhall Park (less than half a mile north-west). Kennington has its own railway station: Vauxhall station. Other landmarks nearby include Baynard's Castle (2.2 miles north) and Type Museum (0.5 miles south). The countryside around Kennington includes Bellenden Road Nature Garden and Ludgate Hill.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Check fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Work on a London roof is rarely simple to arrange, with parking, neighbours and access all to think about. That’s a good reason to find problems early, while there is time to plan, rather than in a rush after a leak.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Visits on any day of the week
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Common roof problems in Kennington
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Shop and office owners around Gabriel's Wharf may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the survey will not cover
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Kennington
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Kennington?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
I let a flat near Vauxhall station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
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.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How it works
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. From the street, a London terrace typically shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Kennington moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.