Greater London · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Forest Hill, Greater London
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Forest Hill, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Flashings that have come away
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
Drone roof surveys around Forest Hill
Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The wider area around Forest Hill has a long history of building, with Kingswood House about 1.6 miles south-west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For a London address like Forest Hill, it helps to know about controlled parking before the day, along with any off-street space. If you run a business near Lewisham Shopping Centre, large commercial roofs are frequently easiest to see by drone or thermal camera.
Forest Hill is about 2 miles south-east of East Dulwich, in Greater London. Forest Hill gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Forest Hill is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
We work across SE23, SE22 and SE26 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Ewart Road, London Road and Rojack Road. If you’re just outside Forest Hill, we cover Honor Oak (1 mile north), Perry Vale (1 mile south-east), Brockley (1 mile north-east), Crofton Park (1 mile north-east) and Dulwich (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover London (4 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles north-west), St Pancras (6 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north).
What’s near Forest Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Allenby Tutorial Trust, Capitol Cinema pub and Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Honor Oak Park station, about 0.5 miles north-east. A little further out are Greenwich Castle (3.1 miles north-east) and Horniman Museum and Gardens (0.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include One Tree Hill and Knight's Hill.
How a drone roof survey works in Forest Hill
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where applicable, is also part of our Premium Survey, along with structural analysis, a same-day report and an in-person consultation. There is a 12-month follow-up as well. We’ll tell you if a drone is not the right tool for your roof. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. If you’ve noticed lead work pulling away at abutments and storm damage on steep or tall roofs, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
London’s roofs are frequently hard to see from the street: valley gutters behind parapets, dormers and flat-roofed rear additions. That’s where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what cannot be reached safely. Weather on the day decides whether it goes ahead, in Forest Hill as anywhere. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Forest Hill (SE23, SE22, SE26)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect about 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so in Forest Hill we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Forest Hill, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.
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For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Common questions in Forest Hill
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Forest Hill?
Parking in Forest Hill, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot, so mention what’s available when booking.
Is drone flying allowed in Forest Hill?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Will you check the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside cannot, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Forest Hill
From the ground, you’re guessing about most of a tall roof. Close-up photos show what’s really there. It’s far easier to plan work when you can see the problem. In Forest Hill, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Package prices that include VAT
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Forest Hill
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. It is hard to tell from below what has shifted. A drone shows what has slipped, lifted or gone.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Flashings that have come away
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
For an older house near a landmark such as Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What exactly goes into their report
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
We email the report to you, with close-up photographs from the flight. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
How the survey changes by roof type
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. The drone sees them without touching them.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley in the middle. You can’t see it from the street at all, but a drone shows it clearly.