Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Brighton and Hove
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out drone roof surveys in Brighton and Hove.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
Drone roof survey in Brighton and Hove: what you get
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly, including slopes that cannot be seen from the street. The photos go into a written report. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. Where a flight is not possible, we explain why. If you’ve noticed cracked mortar along the ridge and ponding and splits on a high flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
For a town like Brighton and Hove, every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map, including zones around airports and prisons. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). We take care over neighbours’ privacy. Flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight, as the open category requires.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Brighton and Hove (BN3, BN41, BN1)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
With Portslade Manor about 1.3 miles west, the area around Brighton and Hove has a long history. For older roofs nearby, a look from the air or with a thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Holy Cross Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view by drone or thermal camera helps. Anyone responsible for a site like West Hove Infant School will know that big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Brighton and Hove is in England. We survey roofs in Brighton and Hove, as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across the surrounding area, large and small.
Drone roof surveys in BN3, BN41 and BN1 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on New Church Road, Princes Square and Station Road. With the A270 and A293 close by, Brighton and Hove is easy for us to reach. Other places close to Brighton and Hove include Aldrington (1 mile south-west), West Blatchington (1 mile north-east), Hove (1 mile south-east), Prestonville (2 miles east) and Brunswick (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Brighton (3 miles east), Carlton Hill (3 miles east), Hanover (3 miles east), Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Hollingdean (3 miles east) and Whitehawk (4 miles east).
Landmarks near Brighton and Hove
We work in homes and buildings around Hove Park, The Drive Prep School and Hove Park School, among other places. Brighton and Hove has its own railway station: Aldrington station. Well-known places in the area include British Engineerium (0.7 miles north-east) and Churchill Square (2.1 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Thundersbarrow Hill and Ladies Mile.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Leaks often start at outlets, edges and around plant. They’re all captured in close-up, as far as the flight allows.
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
Questions from Brighton and Hove
How do I find out if my home in Brighton and Hove is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Brighton and Hove?
Yes, Brighton and Hove is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
What if my home is near an airport?
That depends on where the roof is. Inside a flight restriction zone, we need permission first, which can add time. Book early if you think you may be affected.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Does your drone take thermal images?
The drone gives you detailed photos of the outside of the roof. Thermal imaging comes with the Premium Survey, as a separate check.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest.
Towns and villages near Brighton and Hove
More services for Brighton and Hove
Why it’s worth a survey now in Brighton and Hove
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so you see the roof exactly as it is. On a house in a town like Brighton and Hove, wet loft insulation stops working and can stay damp for a long time. That adds to the bill long before the leak is obvious.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- Prices that include VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Brighton and Hove
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Useful tips for Brighton and Hove property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Let us know the exact address when you book
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
There is a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Every so frequently, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Photograph anything new.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Brighton and Hove often share a roof line with the neighbours, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. It helps to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £400, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.