Greater London · London and the South East
Vale of Health Gutter Survey
Get a clear view of the gutter at a property in Vale of Health. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
Gutter survey in Vale of Health
We check the rainwater system above ground level, from the gutters down to where the downpipes meet the ground. It is not a CCTV drain survey, so we cannot see inside underground pipes. Where water seems to be backing up from below ground, the report will say so, so you can get the drains checked separately. Anything we find above ground, such as a split hopper or a leaking downpipe, is photographed and recorded. Typical surveys look at leaking or loose downpipes and choked outlets or hopper heads, on downpipes, eaves gutters and fascias and soffits.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. If your home in Vale of Health has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Vale of Health (NW3)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What happens on the day
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Otherwise, the visit in Vale of Health runs like any other.
- We agree which parts of the building you are most worried about.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- Fascias, soffits and the walls below are looked at for signs of overflow.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Box and secret gutters
A secret gutter is tucked under the slates or tiles at an abutment or valley and is easy to overlook. The report records what could and couldn’t be seen.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. Splits and failed joints in the lead can let water straight in.
What a gutter survey looks like in Vale of Health
Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. About 0.1 miles west lies Heath House, a reminder of how long the area around Vale of Health has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you look after a building like Christ Church Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live near a park such as Hampstead Heath, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Vale of Health is about 1 mile north of Greenhill, in Greater London. Vale of Health gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Vale of Health is one of the places in Greater London where we work. We also survey roofs in London.
We survey roofs across the NW3 postcode area for gutter surveys. If you need a gutter survey at a property on Well Road, Cannon Lane and Holford Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A502, Vale of Health is simple for us to get to. We also cover the places around Vale of Health: North End (1 mile north-west), Greenhill (1 mile south), Hampstead (1 mile south), West Hampstead (1 mile south-west) and Childs Hill (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (6 miles south-east), City of Westminster (3 miles south), Marylebone (3 miles south), Kensington (4 miles south), St Pancras (4 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-east).
Near you in Vale of Health
In Vale of Health, that means homes and buildings near St Vedasts School For Boys, South Hampstead High School and Hampstead Heath and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Hampstead Heath station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are New End Hospital (less than half a mile south) and Montfichet's Tower (4.7 miles south-east). The countryside around Vale of Health includes Parliament Hill and Turner's Wood.
What we are asked to look at in Vale of Health
Overflowing gutters in a downpour are a common reason to book. Others notice a damp wall, a stained ceiling or a green streak down the brickwork. A survey helps show where the water is coming from before it causes more harm.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
For businesses in and around places like O2 Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Before booking anyone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- When you will get the report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What a gutter survey does not cover
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Gutters out of sight from every safe viewpoint
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Valley gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
Common questions in Vale of Health
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Vale of Health?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Vale of Health?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly, so mention what’s available when you book.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will you look at parapet and box gutters as well?
Yes. Hidden gutters are a common cause of leaks inside so we pay close attention to them. Some may only be partly visible, and we will note that in the report.
Could my damp wall be caused by the gutters?
Leaking gutters and downpipes are a common cause of damp walls, and the survey looks for that. If the evidence points elsewhere, we’ll say so as far as we can tell from what’s visible.
How much time does the visit need?
It usually takes an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We will give you an idea when booking.
Will the survey check for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos testing. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.