Essex · London and the South East
Birch Landlord Roof Survey
Roof condition reports for landlords, agents and blocks of flats for Birch, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Blocked gutters over flats
- Splits and blisters in flat roof coverings
- Damaged party-wall upstands or parapets
Honest limits
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Responsibility under a lease
- Walls, floors and services beyond the roof
- Roof areas we weren’t given access to
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Converted houses
- Gutters and downpipes
- Shared roofs
- Rented houses
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Blocks of flats
Landlord roof survey in Birch: what you get
Our landlord roof survey gives you a clear picture of a roof’s condition, written up so you can plan. Landlords, letting agents, managing agents and freeholders all use it along with RTM and residents’ management companies. The report covers defects, photos and recommendations set out by urgency where relevant. The survey covers the roof, not the whole building. We survey flat roofs on blocks, shared roofs and rented houses, and common reasons people get in touch are standing water on a flat roof and gaps where tiles or slates have slipped.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Birch (CO2)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Birch
Also in Birch
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Birch
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. About 1.7 miles south-west lies Layer Marney Tower, a reminder of how long the area around Birch has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Landlords with a home close to Marks Tey station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Birch is about 5 miles south-west of Colchester, in Essex. Birch gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Our Essex coverage includes Birch and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Here we cover the CO2 postcode area for landlord roof surveys. We also cover the places around Birch: Birch Green (1 mile south), Layer Breton (1 mile south), Heckfordbridge (1 mile north), Layer-de-la-Haye (2 miles east) and Copford Green (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (5 miles north-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (14 miles east), Maldon (10 miles south-west), Witham (8 miles west) and Camulodunum (4 miles north-east).
What’s near Birch
In Birch, that means homes and buildings near Hare And Hounds Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Marks Tey station, roughly 3 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Birch Castle (within half a mile south-east) and Anchor Press Museum (3.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Roman River Valley.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. In a hamlet or village like Birch, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start by agreeing the scope, roof by roof.
- Access to flats and the loft space is arranged with you ahead of time.
- The roofs are inspected from ground level, vantage points, the roof space and the roof where it’s safe.
- Defects are photographed and their urgency noted.
- We send a written report you can use to plan maintenance and budgets.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Deal with urgent items first
- Do not wait for a leak to survey the roof
- Book gutter clearing at least once a year
- Check your lease or ask a solicitor about who pays
If you need to share the findings with leaseholders or a board, the photos help. The report is written in plain language.
Get gutters and roof outlets cleared at least once a year and include any valley or parapet gutters. Blocked gutters are a common cause of leaks into top-floor flats.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A planned maintenance budget needs real information. Our report separates urgent items from those that can wait helping you spread the work. Older cottages and farmhouses around Birch can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys seven days a week
Common roof problems in Birch
On a shared roof, it is not always clear who should act. Each party may assume someone else is dealing with it, so maintenance gets put off. An independent report helps everyone see the facts.
Common reasons to book include:
- Ceiling stains reported by tenants
- Leaking joints at party walls
- Chimney stacks in poor repair
- Splits and blisters in flat roof coverings
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
What to check before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What the survey won’t cover
Common questions in Birch
How do I find out if my home in Birch is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover smaller places like Birch?
Yes, Birch 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 helps to know about access.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Is a landlord roof survey the same as a full building survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey or a structural engineer’s report.
Will you say whether the freeholder or leaseholders should pay?
No. The lease typically decides who is responsible, and that’s a legal question. Our report gives an independent record of the roof’s condition to help those discussions.
Can we use the survey to plan a roof budget?
Yes, that is one of the main reasons clients book. A repeat survey later shows how the roof has changed to keep your plan up to date.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Landlords and letting agents in Birch book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the let or shared roof, with photographs.