City of London · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in City of London
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for City of London. We survey seven days a week.
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in City of London
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photos of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail. The photos go into a written report. It is also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. If you’ve noticed ridge pieces that have lifted and outlets choked with leaves and silt, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Flying in London takes more checking than most places: there are flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every address in City of London is checked before any drone flight, and permission is never taken for granted.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- City of London (EC4V, EC1A, EC2M, EC2Y)
- Region
- City of London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently 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, tell us when you book.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
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Nearby places to City of London
Also in City of London
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Prices for drone roof surveys in City of London
We confirm the price for your survey before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
To get a price for drone roof surveys in City of London, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Flying and imaging in City of London
The restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from City of London. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which isn’t always given. About 0.2 miles south-east lies Mansion House, a reminder of how long the area around City of London has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Shop and office owners around Gabriel's Wharf may find that big, flat commercial roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images help most. Hotels and guest houses near City of London cannot easily close rooms for a leak, so it pays to find faults before guests do. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Olave Old Jewry, 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.
City of London is about 1 mile north of London. Anywhere in City of London, we can come and survey your property.
Surveys in EC4V, EC1A, EC2M and EC2Y work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Aldermanbury Square, Monkwell Square and Paternoster Square or a nearby road, we can help. Main roads around City of London include the A1 and A3. We also cover the places around City of London: Barbican Estate (1 mile north), Bishopsgate (1 mile east), Finsbury (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile east) and St Luke's (1 mile north).
Near you in City of London
In City of London, that means homes and buildings near St Mary-at-Hill, Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre and Golden Fleece pub. Also close by are Central Foundation Boys' School (0.8 miles north), Barts Health Archives (within half a mile north-west) and St Alphage Garden (within half a mile north). There’s a railway station in City of London itself: London Cannon Street station. Other landmarks nearby include Gabriel's Wharf (0.8 miles south-west) and London Mithraeum (within half a mile south). The countryside around City of London includes St. James's Park Lake and Barnsbury Wood.
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Many commercial roofs have fragile sheets or roof lights. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Valleys and parapet gutters
When a parapet outlet blocks, water can come inside. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
What this survey can’t tell you
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
Questions from City of London
Are there drone restrictions around City of London?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from City of London. If a roof falls inside it, we apply for permission before flying, and the flight only goes ahead if it’s granted. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in City of London listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
How do I book a survey in City of London?
Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.