Greater London · London and the South East
Swiss Cottage Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic leak detection in Swiss Cottage and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Holes left by work on the roof
- Gaps at membrane joints
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
How electronic leak detection works in Swiss Cottage
Some flat roofs cannot be tested electronically. Some membranes conduct electricity themselves and some roofs do not have a suitable layer beneath the membrane. We will say if ELD will not work on your roof before any testing. Any details you have about the membrane and build-up help us decide, like drawings or specifications. It avoids arranging a test that cannot give results. If you are worried about holes around roof penetrations and repairs that haven’t stopped the leak, we can find out what’s behind it, on green roofs, roof terraces and balconies and flat roof membranes alike.
Commercial and residential blocks across London often have big flat roofs with plant, rooflights and access walkways. Every penetration and upstand is a place where a membrane can fail. In Swiss Cottage, roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand. Plant bases, rooflights and cable entries are all places where water can get in.
The report records the flat roof membrane as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Swiss Cottage (NW3, NW8, NW6)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- Quoted for your roof
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Swiss Cottage
Is my home in Swiss Cottage listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover commercial flat roofs around Swiss Cottage?
Yes, commercial buildings, hotels included, are part of the work. Roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
How does ELD work?
A sound membrane blocks the test current, so wherever there is a hole, it passes through. That’s how we locate breaches you cannot see.
Do you cover Swiss Cottage?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Swiss Cottage.
Also near Swiss Cottage
Also in Swiss Cottage
Signs you need electronic leak detection in Swiss Cottage
Roofs covered with paving, ballast or planting hide the membrane. Electronic methods can help on some of these roofs though it depends on the layers.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- New membranes needing a check before handover
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Breaches hidden under paving or planting
- Leaks at pipes, outlets or fixings
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of All Souls, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before booking anyone
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Will the report include photos?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Are they insured for the work?
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes more time on a big roof than a small one, with the construction of the roof playing a part too. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when booking.
- We ask about the roof, its age, its membrane and where leaks appear inside.
- We check that the membrane and build-up suit electronic leak detection.
- The testing method is chosen to suit the membrane and build-up.
- Testing runs across the roof to locate breaches in the membrane.
- You get a report showing where each breach is, for your roofer to repair.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
What this survey cannot tell you
It’s a careful look at the flat roof membrane, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Areas we can’t reach or that can’t be tested
- Fixing the holes we find
- How wet the insulation is
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Flat roof membranes
- Commercial flat roofs
- Single-ply roofs
- Green roofs
Electronic leak detection in Swiss Cottage: local notes
Within a mile and a half or so of Swiss Cottage there are several hotels, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. For hotels and other commercial buildings, finding the cause of a flat roof leak quickly keeps rooms in use. Winfield House, about 0.9 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Swiss Cottage. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near South Hampstead station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Hotels and guest houses near Swiss Cottage cannot easily close rooms for a leak, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Swiss Cottage is about 1 mile south of Hampstead, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Swiss Cottage and the rest of Greater London. Swiss Cottage is one of the places in Greater London we cover for electronic leak detection.
Surveys in NW3, NW8 and NW6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need electronic leak detection at a property on Avenue Road, Acacia Road and Harben Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Swiss Cottage: South Hampstead (1 mile north), St John's Wood (1 mile south), Haverstock (1 mile east), Belsize Park (1 mile east) and Primrose Hill (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns like London (4 miles south-east), Kensington (3 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south-east), Shoreditch (4 miles east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east) and Hoxton (4 miles east).
Local landmarks in Swiss Cottage
In Swiss Cottage, that means homes and buildings near Cafe Med pub, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School and Primrose Hill. You’ll also find Cecil Sharp House (1.1 miles east) and St. Mary's Town and Country School (under half a mile north-east). Swiss Cottage has its own railway station: South Hampstead station. Other landmarks nearby include Montfichet's Tower (3.7 miles south-east) and Isokon Gallery (0.8 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s The Long Water and Primrose Hill.
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from ground level. 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.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Record dates and spots where water appears
- Stay off the flat roof unless needed
- Act on new leaks promptly
- Do not let outlets block
If we think the leak is not coming through the membrane, the report says so, with a suggestion of what to check next.
Ask trades working on the roof to protect the membrane when they work up there. Check the roof after they’ve finished.
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber roofs
ELD on EPDM depends on the product and the layers. We check this first.
Single-ply membranes
Some single-ply membranes suit electronic testing well, depending on the type and build-up.