Greater London · London and the South East
Chinatown Landlord Roof Survey
Roof condition reports for landlords, agents and blocks of flats across Chinatown, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Parapets and upstands in poor repair
- Gaps where tiles or slates have slipped
- Choked outlets and gutters
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes an hour or two for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when you book.
- We start with what you know about the building and its history.
- We confirm the access we will need.
- We check coverings, flashings, gutters and chimneys where they can be seen.
- We note what couldn’t be seen as well as what could.
- Findings and recommendations are set out with photographs.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Landlord roof survey in Chinatown
With a shared roof, it’s not always clear what’s wrong or where. We look at the roof from each safe vantage point, including from the loft space and the flats where access is arranged. Each part of the roof is recorded with photos, so everyone works from the same facts. Where neighbours share the roof, we can only inspect what we’re given access to. Typical surveys look at blocked gutters over flats and damaged pots and flaunching, on blocks of flats, shared roofs and rented houses.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. If your home in Chinatown has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
Where we can’t see part of the let or shared roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Chinatown (W1F, W1D, W1T)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Chinatown
What else we do in Chinatown
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Landlord roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What to tell us when you contact us
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Why get it checked now?
Water that gets into one flat can affect others below. Spotting roof defects early helps protect the whole building. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chinatown
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Package prices that include VAT
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Landlord and commercial surveys in Chinatown
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Your questions about landlord roof surveys in Chinatown
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Chinatown?
Normally it is manageable with a little notice. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we will work around them.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chinatown?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How much time does the visit need?
It usually takes between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a block or a building with several roofs. We’ll give you an idea when you book.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Local roofs in Chinatown
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Benjamin Franklin House, about 0.4 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Chinatown goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Living close to St Anne's Churchyard is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn. If you live in an older home near St Anne's Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Tottenham Court Road station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Chinatown is about 1 mile east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. We carry out landlord roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chinatown and nearby. Across Greater London, we cover Chinatown.
Every address in W1F, W1D and W1T is within our area for landlord roof surveys. Streets in the area include Duck Lane, Drury Lane and Bruton Lane. Main roads around Chinatown include the A4 and A301, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Chinatown: Soho (1 mile north), St James's (1 mile south), West End (1 mile north-east), Seven Dials (1 mile north-east) and St Giles (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Kensington (3 miles west), Shoreditch (3 miles north-east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Whitechapel (3 miles east) and Hampstead (4 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Chinatown
In Chinatown, that means homes and buildings near LITE Regal International School, London Library and Waxy O'Connor's pub and the streets around them. You’ll also find St Anne's Churchyard (less than half a mile north-west) and Harris Westminster Sixth Form (0.8 miles south). Chinatown has its own railway station: Tottenham Court Road station. A little further out are Leverian collection (under half a mile south-east) and Montfichet's Tower (1.3 miles east). The countryside around Chinatown includes Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
How the survey changes by roof type
Pitched roofs on houses and blocks
Ridges, hips and verges take a lot of weather and get close attention.
Flat roofs on blocks and rear additions
Outlets on flat roofs block easily leaving water standing. We check them as part of the survey.