Essex · London and the South East
Landlord Roof Survey in Gilston
Roof condition reports for landlords, agents and blocks of flats for Gilston, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Cracked or lifting flashings
- Parapets and upstands in poor repair
Your questions about landlord roof surveys in Gilston
Is Gilston within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Can a landlord with a rental near Harlow Town station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Will you inspect a roof that several owners share?
Yes. We survey what we can access and see safely. The report records what couldn’t be seen as well as what could.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take between one and two hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Does the report help with maintenance planning?
Yes, many agents and freeholders use it that way. Surveying again later shows what has changed, which suits a rolling plan.
Landlord roof survey in Gilston: what you get
Access needs arranging before a survey of a let or shared building. The roof space and certain flats may need to be opened up for us, so tenants or leaseholders need notice. Your agent or you arrange access, and we confirm what we need when you book. Where we cannot get into part of the building, the report says so. We’re often asked to look into damaged party-wall upstands or parapets and ceiling stains reported by tenants, on converted houses, shared roofs and gutters and downpipes.
In a village or hamlet like Gilston, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often 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. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Where we cannot see part of the let or shared roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Gilston (CM20)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Do not store items over the loft hatch
- Put urgent roof work at the top of the list
- Get legal advice on lease responsibilities
- Survey the roof on a regular cycle
We don’t advise on leases or who should pay. What we provide is an independent record of condition to help those discussions.
Act on urgent items in the report first and schedule the others. Left alone, minor faults normally get worse.
The survey, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere as small as Gilston, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- Each roof is checked from safe vantage points and inside where possible.
- Every defect is photographed and its urgency noted where relevant.
- A written condition report follows to help you plan.
Before the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
What we are asked to look at in Gilston
A roof nobody lives directly under can be easy to overlook. Minor faults can go unseen until a tenant reports a leak and by then more has been damaged.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Parapets and upstands in poor repair
- Missing or loose roof coverings
- Mortar falling from ridges and verges
- Leaks into upper flats
Living close to Harlow Marsh is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What happens after the report arrives
What a landlord roof survey looks like in Gilston
Much Hadham Palace, about 4.8 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Gilston. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Parish Church of St Mary, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For landlords with property near Harlow Town station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Gilston is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. Roofs in Gilston get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Essex. Across Essex, we cover Gilston. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM20 postcode area for landlord roof surveys. We cover properties on Pye Corner and Eastwick Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for landlord roof surveys include Eastwick (1 mile south-west), Little Parndon (1 mile south-west), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Staple Tye (3 miles south) and Roydon (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (10 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
Near you in Gilston
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Plume Of Feathers pub, Burnt Mill Academy and Harlow Marsh and the streets around them. The closest station to Gilston is Harlow Town station, about 0.6 miles south. A little further out are Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Harlow Mill (1.2 miles east). Not far away are Hunsdon Mead.
How the survey changes by roof type
Roof spaces and lofts
Older roofs may have bitumen felt underlay or none at all. The report records the underlay where it is visible.
Party-wall upstands and parapets
On terraces, walls rise between neighbouring roofs. Their flashings and pointing can let water in.
Prices for landlord roof surveys in Gilston
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
DIY checks: what’s safe
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.