Greater London · London and the South East
South Kensington Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in South Kensington and across Greater London, with plain-English findings.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A stack that appears to lean
About our chimney survey in South Kensington
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. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. Typical surveys look at bricks with flaking faces and pots or cowls that look unsafe, on chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, so roofs are frequently shared between several households. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. With a written report and photos, everyone can plan from the same facts.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- South Kensington (SW3, SW7, SW10)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Also near South Kensington
Also in South Kensington
Prices for chimney surveys in South Kensington
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The size of the roof
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Photograph damp patches with the date
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Questions from South Kensington
Can a landlord with a rental near West Brompton station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in South Kensington?
It depends on the street. If South Kensington has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details as you book.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you work in South Kensington?
Yes, we do. South Kensington is part of the area we cover, and the service is the same as everywhere else we work.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast usually means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in South Kensington
Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses like Carlyle's House, about 0.6 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around South Kensington goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
The streets around a church such as Chapel of St Luke are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you own a rental within reach of West Brompton station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
South Kensington is about 1 mile south-east of Kensington, in Greater London. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in South Kensington and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
Surveys in SW3, SW7 and SW10 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on King's Road, Fulham Road and Museum Lane. Main roads around South Kensington include the A3217, which makes travel easy. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Little Chelsea (1 mile south), Chelsea (1 mile east), Brompton (1 mile north-east), World's End (1 mile south) and Earl's Court (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include London (4 miles east), St Pancras (4 miles north-east), Shoreditch (5 miles north-east), Walthamstow (9 miles north-east), Hoxton (5 miles north-east) and Whitechapel (5 miles east).
Landmarks near South Kensington
Around South Kensington, our work takes us to homes and buildings near London School of Dramatic Art, Burton’s Court and Anglesea Arms, among other places. Nearby too are Natural History Museum Library and Archives (within half a mile north) and Collingham College (0.5 miles west). For rail, the closest station is West Brompton station, roughly 0.8 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Victoria and Albert Museum Spiral (under half a mile north) and Baynard's Castle (3.6 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Serpentine and Campden Hill.
What happens on the day
It helps 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. Most visits take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In South Kensington, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. 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 safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Do you need a chimney survey in South Kensington?
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- A stack that appears to lean
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you run a business near Harrods, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Before you book anyone
- How soon the report will arrive
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What experience they bring
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Why act early in South Kensington
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. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.