Greater London · London and the South East
South Harrow Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in South Harrow and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in South Harrow
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
How a chimney survey works in South Harrow
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at signs that a stack is leaning and pots or cowls that look unsafe, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and flaunching.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Landlords, managing agents and residents’ companies need to know what condition it’s in and what work is coming up, in South Harrow as anywhere. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. With a written report and photographs, everyone can plan from the same facts.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- South Harrow (HA2, HA1, UB5)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in South Harrow
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Historic houses such as Northolt Manor, about 1.5 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around South Harrow goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
Living close to Northwick Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn. For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Paul, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you look after a building such as The Welldon Park Academy, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
South Harrow is about 1 mile south of Harrow, in Greater London. We carry out chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in South Harrow and nearby. Our Greater London coverage includes South Harrow. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: HA2, HA1 and UB5. Streets in the area include Park Lane, Grange Road and Dudley Road, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around South Harrow: Roxeth (1 mile north-east), Harrow (1 mile north), Harrow on the Hill (1 mile east), Rayners Lane (1 mile north-west) and Northolt (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (12 miles east), City of Westminster (9 miles east), Marylebone (9 miles east), Kensington (8 miles south-east), St Pancras (10 miles east) and Shoreditch (12 miles east).
Landmarks near South Harrow
We work in homes and buildings around Orley Farm School, Northwick Park and St Dominic's Sixth Form College. The closest station to South Harrow is Northolt Park station, roughly 0.5 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find St. George's Shopping Centre (1.3 miles north-east) and Kodak Museum (2 miles north). The countryside around South Harrow includes Middle Lake and Northala Fields.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we look at how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
How the survey works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. In South Harrow, as in much of London, lots of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when 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.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Common questions in South Harrow
Can a landlord with a rental near Northolt Park station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in South Harrow?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly, so mention what’s available when booking.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us as you book.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report is sent afterwards by email.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Places near South Harrow
Also in South Harrow
Checking the roof from the ground
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
For landlords and managing agents
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in South Harrow. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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.
Why it is worth a survey now in South Harrow
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks and the job gets bigger. Work on a London roof is rarely simple to arrange, with parking, neighbours and access all to think about. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly, rather than in a rush after a leak.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Package prices that include VAT
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.