Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Holwell Landlord Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for landlord roof surveys in Holwell. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Leaking joints at party walls
- Worn ridges, hips and verges
- Cracked or leaning shared chimneys
About our landlord roof survey in Holwell
Landlords often book us when buying a property to rent out, others when a tenant reports a leak or damp. Agents and freeholders often want a survey for a rolling maintenance plan. Whatever the reason, the report follows the same clear format with photographs and recommendations. We survey on weekdays and at weekends which can help when arranging access with residents. Typical surveys look at gaps where tiles or slates have slipped and leaks into upper flats, across flat roofs on blocks, gutters and downpipes and converted houses.
Somewhere as small as Holwell, homes are frequently 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. 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.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Holwell (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and downpipes
Gutters are a common source of leaks on blocks. Gutters, outlets and downpipes are inspected as far as can safely be seen.
Shared chimney stacks
Many terraces and conversions have shared stacks. We check pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings as far as can be seen.
Places near Holwell
More services for Holwell
When to book a survey in Holwell
Many let properties sit under roofs that have seen decades of weather. Nails, battens, flashings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles so it pays to check how the roof is holding up.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Parapets and upstands in poor repair
- Gutters overflowing onto walls
- Splits and blisters in flat roof coverings
- Worn ridges, hips and verges
If you look after a building such as The Priory School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Before you book anyone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long the report takes to arrive
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
The survey, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a small place like Holwell, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First, we confirm the roofs and areas to be surveyed.
- Access to flats and the loft space is arranged with you beforehand.
- We inspect each roof from safe vantage points, the roof space and the roof itself where safe.
- Defects are photographed and their urgency noted.
- You get a written condition report to help plan maintenance.
Getting ready for the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
What affects the cost of landlord roof surveys
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
What to tell us when you get in touch
We’ll normally ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
FAQs for Holwell
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Holwell?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to Holwell?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Will the survey cover the whole building?
No. Our survey covers the roof, not the whole building. It’s not a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey or a structural engineer’s report.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when you book.
Do you advise on who is responsible under the lease?
No, that depends on the lease, so speak to your managing agent or a solicitor. We report on the roof’s condition and what needs attention.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Why get it checked now?
A contractor’s quote tells you what they propose to do. An independent survey tells you the roof’s condition first, so you can compare quotes on the same basis. In a small place like Holwell, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Holwell
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Prices that include VAT
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
What we can’t see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Walls, floors and services beyond the roof
- The structure in the way a structural engineer would assess it
- Confirming asbestos in older roof materials
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Rented houses
- Shared roofs
- Converted houses
- Blocks of flats
- Gutters and downpipes
Local roofs in Holwell
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter (C of E) at Corner with Holwell Road, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you own a rental within reach of Hitchin station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Holwell is about 3 miles north-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Bookings from Holwell are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Holwell and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
All of SG5 is covered for landlord roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Gurney's Lane, Pirton Road and Rand's Meadow, all of which we cover. Other places close to Holwell include Pirton (2 miles south-west), Shillington (3 miles west), Apsley End (3 miles west), Hanscombe End (3 miles west) and Pegsdon (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Stevenage (7 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles south), Harpenden (12 miles south), Hitchin (3 miles south-east), Letchworth (3 miles east) and Letchworth Garden City (3 miles east).
Landmarks near Holwell
Holwell’s nearest station is Hitchin station, roughly 2.8 miles south-east. Nearby you will also find Wymondley Castle (4.3 miles south-east) and Fairfield Hospital (2.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Markham's Hill and Oughtonhead Nature Reserve.