Greater London · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Forest Gate, Greater London
Get a clear view of the gutter at a property in Forest Gate from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
About our gutter survey in Forest Gate
This survey covers rainwater above ground, from the gutters down to where the downpipes meet the ground. It is not a CCTV drain survey and we cannot see inside buried drains. If the problem looks like a blocked or broken drain below ground, we’ll say so in the report, so you can get the drains checked separately. Problems above ground, from split hoppers to leaking downpipes, are photographed and noted. Common reasons to book are water backing up from a hidden gutter and leaking or loose downpipes, on downpipes, outlets and hoppers and fascias and soffits.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, many with Welsh slate roofs, shared chimney stacks and parapet or valley gutters. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. In Forest Gate, as across London, that is why a roof needs a careful look rather than a glance from the street. Shared chimney stacks and the lead around them are just as important to check.
If any part of the gutter couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Forest Gate (E7, E15, E11)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
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 as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Towns and villages near Forest Gate
Also in Forest Gate
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
What we can’t see
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
- Whether a material contains asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Downpipes
- Parapet and box gutters
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. 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. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when booking.
- First, we agree the areas to focus on.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- We check the outlets, hoppers, downpipes and any overflows.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- Findings are photographed and set out in a written report.
Before we arrive
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets in another room
- Note where any stains or damp appear
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Local roofs in Forest Gate
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 2.2 miles north-east lies Valentines Mansion, a reminder of how long the area around Forest Gate has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you live near a park such as West Ham Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. If you own a rental within reach of Wanstead Park station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Woodgrange Infant School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Forest Gate is about 6 miles north-east of London, in Greater London. If you are in Forest Gate, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Forest Gate is one of the places in Greater London we cover. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for gutter surveys: E7, E15 and E11. Local streets include Elm Road, Ash Road and Cary Road, and we cover them all. Forest Gate sits on or near the A114 and A116, which makes travel easy. Other places close to Forest Gate include Upton (1 mile south), Aldersbrook (1 mile north), Holloway Down (1 mile west), Plashet (1 mile south-east) and Little Ilford (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include London (6 miles south-west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Near you in Forest Gate
Typical jobs here are in homes near Tyndale Academy, Forest Gate Community School and The Hudson Bay pub, among other places. There’s a railway station in Forest Gate itself: Wanstead Park station. A little further out are Stratford Centre (1.3 miles south-west) and Passmore Edwards Museum (0.9 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
Forest Gate questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Forest Gate?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Forest Gate?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Is a Saturday or Sunday visit possible?
Yes. Surveys are carried out on any day of the week. To find a day that suits, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will you check the drains below ground?
No. We check above-ground rainwater only, from the gutters to the bottom of the downpipes. If a drain below ground looks like the cause, the report says so.
Do you look in the loft space?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Are hidden gutters like valleys and box gutters included?
Yes, as far as they can be seen safely. We look from vantage points, the loft space and the roof itself where safe, and by drone where it’s applicable.
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Look for green streaks or damp patches on walls
- Check the loft with care after heavy rain
- Look out for overflows when it pours
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
Where the evidence points to drains below ground, the report says so, so you can arrange a drain survey. Anything else we notice on the roof, as far as we can see it, is noted too.
Deal with drips, sags and loose downpipes early. Left alone, they usually grow, and the water they spill can damage walls and timber.
What affects the cost of gutter surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Gutter survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- What’s prompted the survey
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.