Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Ardley Landlord Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the let or shared roof at a property in Ardley. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Flashings that have come away
- Splits and blisters in flat roof coverings
- Damp or stains in top-floor flats
How a landlord roof survey works in Ardley
A roof over tenants or leaseholders often gets attention only when water comes in. Surveying the roof first helps you spot defects early so work can be planned, not rushed. The findings come in a written report with photos to keep on file for the building. Many clients repeat the survey on a rolling basis to see how the roof is changing. If you’ve noticed choked outlets and gutters and ceiling stains reported by tenants, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Ardley, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Location
- Ardley (OX27)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Ardley
A single building may have pitched roofs, flat roofs and rear additions. They all age at different rates, and flat roofs over rear additions often need attention sooner.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Cracked or leaning shared chimneys
- Missing or loose roof coverings
- Parapets and upstands in poor repair
- Damp or stains in top-floor flats
If you own a rental within reach of Bicester North station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How soon the report will arrive
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will the report include photos?
Places near Ardley
What else we do in Ardley
What a landlord roof survey looks like in Ardley
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Ardley is about 4 miles north-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Whether the building in Ardley is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small. You can also see our page for Oxford.
We survey roofs across OX27 for landlord roof surveys. We cover properties on Church Road, Station Road and Somerton Road. Neighbouring places we cover for landlord roof surveys include Fewcott (1 mile north-west), Fritwell (1 mile north-west), Upper Heyford (2 miles south-west), Middleton Stoney (2 miles south) and Souldern (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (13 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south-east), Kidlington (9 miles south), Headington Quarry (13 miles south) and Bure Park (3 miles south-east).
Around Ardley
We work in homes and buildings around The Fox and Hounds pub, among other places. Ardley’s nearest station is Bicester North station, about 3.8 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Ardley Castle (under half a mile west) and Bicester Community Hospital (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Ardley includes Graven Hill.
Different roofs, different checks
Shared chimney stacks
Damp in a chimney breast can start at the top of the stack. We note what we can see.
Roof spaces and lofts
The roof space shows a lot about a roof’s condition. We go into the loft where it’s safe looking for water marks and gaps.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the let or shared roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Ardley frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First, we confirm the scope and the purpose of the report.
- You arrange access to the loft and any flats we need.
- Each roof is checked from safe vantage points and inside where possible.
- We photograph defects and note how urgent they look.
- You get a written report to plan maintenance and budgets.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Read more
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from the ground. 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.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Give tenants a simple way to report leaks
- Put urgent roof work at the top of the list
- Get legal advice on lease responsibilities
- Tell tenants when we’re coming
How soon the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Pick the package that suits the building and your timescale.
Encourage residents to tell you about leaks or damp right away. Early reports let you act before damage spreads.
What a landlord roof survey does not cover
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Confirming asbestos in older roof materials
- A full structural assessment of the building
- Legal advice on leases or service charges
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Shared roofs
- Blocks of flats
- Converted houses
- Rented houses
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Gutters and downpipes
Ardley questions
I let a flat near Bicester North station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Is Ardley within the area you cover?
Yes, Ardley is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Do you survey roofs shared between flats?
Yes. We survey what we can access and see safely. Areas we couldn’t see are noted as well as what could.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.