East Sussex · London and the South East
Landlord roof survey in Birling Gap, East Sussex
Landlord roof surveys in Birling Gap from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Damp or stains in top-floor flats
- Failed flashings at walls and chimneys
- Splits and blisters in flat roof coverings
About our landlord roof survey in Birling Gap
A roof condition report helps you plan maintenance and set budgets. You can see what’s urgent and what can wait based on what can be seen. It doesn’t give repair costs but contractors can price from it. Anything urgent is made clear, so you can act on them first and plan the rest over the coming years. We survey gutters and downpipes, converted houses and shared roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are blocked gutters over flats and mortar falling from ridges and verges.
In a village or hamlet like Birling Gap, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. 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.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Where
- Birling Gap (BN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- Which survey package you book
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
There’s no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- The property’s address and postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Birling Gap homes and their roofs
Birling Gap is within about 1 mile of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. With Alfriston Clergy House about 4.7 miles north-west, Birling Gap sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Landlords with a home close to Eastbourne station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Birling Gap is about 5 miles south-east of Seaford, in East Sussex. Birling Gap is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Surveys in BN20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Birling Gap: East Dean (1 mile north), Friston (1 mile north), Meads (3 miles east), Holywell (3 miles east) and Old Town (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (5 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles north-east), Seaford (5 miles north-west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (9 miles north) and Newhaven (8 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Birling Gap
The closest station to Birling Gap is Eastbourne station, about 3.9 miles north-east. A little further out are Eastbourne District General Hospital (4.1 miles north-east) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (3.9 miles east). Open spaces near Birling Gap include Combe Hill.
More services for Birling Gap
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the let or shared roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit usually takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around Birling Gap, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We agree the roofs to be surveyed and what you need the report for.
- You arrange access to the loft and any flats we need.
- We inspect each roof as far as it can safely be seen.
- Every defect is photographed and its urgency noted where relevant.
- A written condition report follows to help you plan.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Your questions about landlord roof surveys in Birling Gap
Is the coastal weather around Birling Gap hard on roofs?
It can do. Birling Gap is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Can a landlord with a rental near Eastbourne station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you look in the roof space?
Usually, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Check your lease or ask a solicitor about who pays
- Book gutter clearing at least once a year
- Arrange flat access ahead of time
- Make sure the roof space can be accessed
The report comes with photos and written recommendations ranked by urgency where relevant. It’s emailed to you so you can share it with owners, agents or contractors.
Get gutters and roof outlets cleared at least once a year, especially on blocks with valleys or parapets. Blocked gutters are a common cause of leaks into top-floor flats.
Why act early in Birling Gap
Keeping a dated survey on file helps with future planning. Repeat surveys let you see how the roof is changing which helps with rolling maintenance. Older and listed buildings around Birling Gap may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
All our prices include VAT. Landlord roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Birling Gap
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What we can’t see
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Parts of the roof we cannot safely see or access
- The rest of the building, as a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey would
- The structure in the way a structural engineer would assess it
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Birling Gap
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Blocks of flats
- Converted houses
- Gutters and downpipes
- Rented houses
- Shared roofs