West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Ditchling Common
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Ditchling Common. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
Why it’s worth a survey now in Ditchling Common
With drone photos, everyone can see the same thing. They show the location and extent of each defect, which helps when you ask for quotes. Older and listed buildings around Ditchling Common may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- 20+ years’ experience
- An independent view of the roof
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
How a drone roof survey works in Ditchling Common
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where it applies, is also part of our Premium Survey, with a same-day report, structural analysis and an in-person consultation. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. We will tell you if a drone is not the right tool for your roof. Every drone survey comes with a written report and close-up photographs. If you’ve noticed vegetation in valleys and gutters and worn lead at chimneys and walls, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Ditchling Common, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Weather and airspace are looked at before the visit, and the journey is planned in advance. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Ditchling Common (BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Ditchling Common: your questions answered
Is my home in Ditchling Common listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you come out to Ditchling Common?
Yes. Ditchling Common is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
What about my neighbours’ privacy?
No, the camera is kept on your roof. Next door’s windows and gardens are kept out of shot as far as possible. It is useful to tell neighbours beforehand.
Can you fly a drone near an airport?
Flight restriction zones around protected airports need permission from the airport or air traffic control before any flight. We check the airspace for your address and seek permission where it is needed. If it isn’t given, we inspect by other means.
How long does the visit take?
Typically, it takes about one to two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. That includes checking the site and the weather before take-off.
Places near Ditchling Common
Other services in Ditchling Common
The survey, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. For a village or hamlet like Ditchling Common, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Ditchling Common, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Ditchling Common
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Airspace, weather and Ditchling Common roofs
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
Ockenden Manor, about 4.7 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ditchling Common. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. Take a building like Birchwood Grove Community Primary School: thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Ditchling Common is about 2 miles south-east of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Ditchling Common across London and South East England. Across West Sussex, we cover Ditchling Common and the places around it. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN6 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Other places close to Ditchling Common include Wivelsfield (1 mile north), Wivelsfield Green (2 miles north-east), Plumpton Green (2 miles south-east), Streat (2 miles south) and East Chiltington (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (12 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Haywards Heath (4 miles north), East Grinstead (13 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles south-west) and Lancing (13 miles south-west).
Around Ditchling Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Burgess Hill Academy and Burgess Hill Girls and the streets around them. Ditchling Common’s nearest station is Burgess Hill station, roughly 1.6 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Clayton Castle (3.4 miles south-west) and Burgess Hill Museum (1.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve and Ditchling Beacon.
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
What to let us know when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Different roofs, different checks
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. The drone sees them without touching them.
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is typically out of view. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.