Greater London · London and the South East
London Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach around London, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in London
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Near protected airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Central London has restricted areas of its own, which need NATS permission. If we can’t fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and tell you. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. If you are worried about blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and vegetation in valleys and gutters, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a place the size of London, a good many roofs are tall, steep or very large, and many can’t be seen properly from ground level. A drone gives close-up photos, while thermal imaging can show patterns that point to trapped moisture or missing insulation. The right tool depends on the roof and what you want to find out. The weather decides the day for both.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- London (CR0, E14, CR4, SW11)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. A drone avoids that, so the survey does not add damage.
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. The drone covers the roof area by area, so nothing is skipped.
Nearby places to London
Other services in London
Flying and imaging in London
The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of London. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. Across London, slate-roofed Victorian and Edwardian terraces give way in places to interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St George the Martyr, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. For hotels and guest houses around London, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Charles Dickens Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
London is in Greater London. Roofs in London get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Greater London. Our Greater London coverage includes London.
We cover every part of CR0, E14, CR4 and SW11 for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include Walcot Square, Surrey Square and Sutherland Square, all of which we cover. London is on the A2 and A10, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to London include Walworth (1 mile south), Bermondsey (1 mile east), Camberwell (2 miles south), South Bermondsey (2 miles south-east) and Surrey Canal (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as City of Westminster (3 miles west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west) and Ruislip (14 miles west). London is one of the larger places we cover in Greater London.
Around London
We work in homes and buildings around Newington Gardens, Trinity Arms Public House and London School of Musical Theatre. Nearby too are St Mary-at-Hill (0.9 miles north-east), Ark Globe Academy (under half a mile south) and The BFI Reuben Library (1 mile north-west). London has its own railway station: Elephant & Castle station. Nearby you’ll also find Surrey Dispensary (under half a mile south-east) and Baynard's Castle (0.9 miles north). The countryside around London includes Bellenden Road Nature Garden and St. James's Park Lake.
What happens on the day
It’s useful 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 about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Town-centre streets in London can mean pay-and-display or permit parking, so a word about where to park saves time. Inside, the loft and any room with a stain are the places we’ll want to see. Outside, the roof is viewed from every point that’s safe.
- You give us the address and tell us about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in London
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Move stored items away from the hatch
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the location and extent of every problem, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, so small faults are dealt with early.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in London
Is drone flying allowed in London?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of London. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. London is about 2 miles from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which isn’t always given. 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 heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in London listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
When does the report arrive?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know when you book.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you work in London?
Yes. We cover London and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in London?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT.
What this survey cannot tell you
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Why it’s worth a survey now in London
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Roof faults in London, as anywhere, rarely fix themselves: one loose tile lets in water, which weakens the battens and loosens more. Early action is typically the cheaper option.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- 98% of clients satisfied
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.