Greater London · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Forest Hill, Greater London
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes for Forest Hill and the rest of Greater London. We survey on any day of the week.
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Overflowing eaves gutters
Gutter survey in Forest Hill
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. If they clog, drip or sag, the water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t and that typically means the walls or the inside of the building. We check the full rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. You get a written report with photos. If you are worried about leaks at the gutter joints and downpipes that are split or coming away, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, so roofs are often shared between several households. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. With a written report and photographs, everyone can plan from the same facts.
What you get is a clear record of the gutter on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Forest Hill (SE23, SE22, SE26)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Forest Hill
Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 1.6 miles south-west lies Kingswood House, a reminder of how long the area around Forest Hill has been built on. 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.
If you own a rental within reach of Honor Oak Park station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you live in an older home near Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Forest Hill is about 2 miles south-east of East Dulwich, in Greater London. In Forest Hill, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Forest Hill is one of the places in Greater London we cover.
We survey roofs across SE23, SE22 and SE26 for gutter surveys and the streets around it. We offer gutter surveys to properties on Ewart Road, London Road and Rojack Road and the roads around them. We also 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
Landmarks near Forest Hill
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Allenby Tutorial Trust, Capitol Cinema pub and Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich. The nearest railway station is Honor Oak Park station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Greenwich Castle (3.1 miles north-east) and Horniman Museum and Gardens (0.5 miles south-west). Not far away are One Tree Hill and Knight's Hill.
Also near Forest Hill
What else we do in Forest Hill
When to book a survey in Forest Hill
Valley, parapet and box gutters are often lined with lead or a sheet material. Splits and blocked outlets in these gutters can send water straight into the building as there’s nowhere harmless for it to go. Lead linings can also be stolen.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Leaking or loose downpipes
Homes near green spaces such as Peckham Rye can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their report turnaround times
Leave it or get it looked at?
Climbing a ladder to look in the gutters yourself is risky. You can see drips and overflows from ground level, but valleys, parapets and box gutters are hard to see. Our survey covers whatever is safely visible and records it with photos. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork, which can lead to damp inside. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT.
What you get with us
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a London conversion, the way into the roof space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it’s useful to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Forest Hill runs like any other.
- You tell us where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from the ground.
- We look at hidden gutters as far as safe access allows.
- The loft space is checked for staining, where it can be reached safely.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
On plastic systems, slipped joints are one of the most common faults. The report notes every one we spot.
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. We note corrosion, cracks and leaking joints where they can be seen.
Honest limits
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Pipes below ground level
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Fascias and soffits
FAQs for Forest Hill
How do I find out if my home in Forest Hill is listed?
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.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Forest Hill?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Could my damp wall be caused by the gutters?
We check whether rainwater from the gutters is reaching the wall, through overflows, drips or damaged downpipes. We can’t see inside the wall itself, so the report covers what can be seen.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Are hidden gutters like valleys and box gutters included?
Yes, where it is safe to see them. We use the ground, windows, the roof space and the roof where it is safe, and by drone where it’s applicable.
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Look for green streaks or damp patches on walls
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Ask for valleys and parapet gutters to be cleared too
- Check from the ground or a window, not a ladder
Where the evidence points to drains below ground, the report says so, so a drain survey can be arranged. Anything else we notice on the roof, as far as we can see it, is noted too.
Look at the gutters from indoors or the ground when it pours. Overflows and dripping joints are a sign to act before the walls suffer.