Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in London, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for London, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Chimney survey in London
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a report with photographs and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. Common reasons to book are unused flues sealed without airflow and pots or cowls that look unsafe, across brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and lead flashings.
London is big enough to have roofs from every era, with slate on older terraces, tiles on later houses and flat roofs on extensions, flats and shops. Each fails in its own way: slipped slates, cracked tiles, worn ridges, loose flashings, tired chimney stacks or blocked gutters. Knowing which you have shapes the survey.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- London (CR0, E14, CR4, SW11)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from London
Is London in the area you cover?
Yes, London is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Is my home in London listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it is capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when booking.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from the ground, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book. For a price, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landlord and commercial surveys in London
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Chimney surveys around London
The wider area around London has a long history of building, with Mansion House about 1 mile north. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. London has everything from slate-roofed Victorian terraces with hidden valley and parapet gutters to interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles, along with post-war estates and modern flats. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you run a business near Gabriel's Wharf, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St George the Martyr, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Landlords with a home close to Elephant & Castle station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
London is in Greater London. Anywhere in London, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Chimney surveys in CR0, E14, CR4 and SW11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Walcot Square, Surrey Square and Sutherland Square, and we cover them all. Main roads around London include the A2 and A10. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Walworth (1 mile south), Bermondsey (1 mile east), Camberwell (2 miles south), South Bermondsey (2 miles south-east) and Surrey Canal (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (3 miles west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west) and Ruislip (14 miles west). London is among the bigger towns we cover in Greater London.
Landmarks near London
Typical jobs here are in homes near Newington Gardens, Trinity Arms Public House and London School of Musical Theatre. You’ll also find St Mary-at-Hill (0.9 miles north-east), Ark Globe Academy (less than half a mile south) and The BFI Reuben Library (1 mile north-west). London has its own railway station: Elephant & Castle station. Nearby you will also find Surrey Dispensary (less than half a mile south-east) and Baynard's Castle (0.9 miles north). Not far away are Bellenden Road Nature Garden and St. James's Park Lake.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it is frequently a small job.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the chimney stack as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If the property is near the centre of London, let us know about car parks or permit rules nearby. Inside, the loft and any room with a stain are the places we’ll want to see. Outside, we work round the building to find the safe viewpoints.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Places near London
Also in London
Why it’s worth a survey now in London
A small amount of repointing or new flaunching is normally a modest job. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. Roof faults in London, as anywhere, rarely fix themselves: one loose tile lets in water, which weakens the battens and loosens more. Dealing with it early is normally the cheaper route.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in London
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- PI and public liability insurance
What this survey cannot tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.