Essex · London and the South East
Landlord Roof Survey in Chignall Smealy
Wondering about the let or shared roof at a property in Chignall Smealy? We carry out landlord roof surveys in Chignall Smealy and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Mortar falling from ridges and verges
- Blocked gutters over flats
- Damaged party-wall upstands or parapets
Landlord roof survey in Chignall Smealy: what you get
A landlord roof survey covers the usual parts of a roof: slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Flat roofs over blocks, rear additions and garages are covered too where they’re part of the brief. Chimney stacks, parapets and party-wall upstands are checked as far as they can be seen safely, along with the roof space where there’s safe access. If you’re worried about gutters overflowing onto walls and worn ridges, hips and verges, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Somewhere as small as Chignall Smealy, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Chignall Smealy (CM1)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Structural calculations or an engineer’s report
- Roof areas we weren’t given access to
- Walls, floors and services beyond the roof
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Converted houses
- Shared roofs
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Rented houses
- Blocks of flats
- Gutters and downpipes
Landlord roof surveys around Chignall Smealy
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. Hylands, about 4.7 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chignall Smealy. 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.
If you look after a building such as Newlands Spring Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Bond Street Chelmsford, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Chignall Smealy is about 4 miles north-west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Anywhere in Chignall Smealy, we can carry out landlord roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Essex, we cover Chignall Smealy.
We cover every part of CM1 for landlord roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover Chignall St James (1 mile south), Breeds (2 miles north-east), Great Waltham (2 miles north-east), Minnow End (2 miles east) and Broomfield (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (4 miles south-east), Basildon (14 miles south), Braintree (9 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south-west) and Maldon (12 miles east).
What’s near Chignall Smealy
Around Chignall Smealy, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Pig and Whistle pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Chelmsford station, roughly 3.6 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Bond Street Chelmsford (4 miles south-east) and Peter Edwards Museum And Library (3.9 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Little Waltham Meadows.
Do you need a landlord roof survey in Chignall Smealy?
Landlords need to plan spending on a building. Without a recent survey, it’s hard to know what the roof needs or when.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Mortar falling from ridges and verges
- Blocked gutters over flats
- Chimney stacks in poor repair
- Cracked or lifting flashings
If you let a flat or house near Chelmsford station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What happens after the report arrives
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: 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. The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. In a small place like Chignall Smealy, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We agree the roofs to be surveyed and what you need the report for.
- Access to flats and the roof space is arranged by you or your agent.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is 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.
Read more
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, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Nearby places to Chignall Smealy
Other services in Chignall Smealy
Useful tips for Chignall Smealy property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Give tenants a simple way to report leaks
- Make sure the loft space can be accessed
- Keep past survey reports with the building’s records
- Get legal advice on lease responsibilities
We don’t advise on leases or who should pay. What we provide is an independent record of condition that everyone can refer to.
Act on urgent items in the report first and schedule the others. Small roof defects tend to grow.
Common questions in Chignall Smealy
I let a flat near Chelmsford station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like Chignall Smealy?
Yes, Chignall Smealy is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How we price landlord roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- How big the roof is
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The property’s address and postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, tell us about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.