Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Oaklands Landlord Roof Survey
Not sure what state the let or shared roof is in? We carry out landlord roof surveys in Oaklands and across Hertfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Cracked or lifting flashings
- Leaking joints at party walls
- Leaks into upper flats
Oaklands: your questions answered
Will you come out to Oaklands?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How do I find out if my home in Oaklands is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How much time does the visit need?
A visit typically 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 booking.
Will you say whether the freeholder or leaseholders should pay?
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.
Does the report help with maintenance planning?
Yes, many agents and freeholders use it that way. A repeat survey later shows how the roof has changed, which suits a rolling plan.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
How do I book a survey in Oaklands?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
About our landlord roof survey in Oaklands
Shared roofs on blocks, converted houses and terraces raise their own questions. We inspect the roof as far as it can safely be seen, including from the roof space and the flats where access is arranged. The report records the condition of each part, so everyone works from the same facts. Where neighbours share the roof, we can only inspect what we’re given access to. We survey rented houses, shared roofs and converted houses, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps where tiles or slates have slipped and leaks into upper flats.
Around Oaklands, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Oaklands (AL6)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord roof surveys around Oaklands
With Digswell House about 1.8 miles south, Oaklands 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Michael and All Angels, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Welwyn North station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Oaklands is about 3 miles north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. We carry out landlord roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Oaklands and nearby. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. We also survey roofs in London.
We work across the AL6 postcode area for landlord roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Briary Wood End, Lower Mardley Hill and Heathbrow Road, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Oaklands: Woolmer Green (1 mile north-east), Harmer Green (1 mile south-east), Burnham Green (1 mile south-east), Datchworth (2 miles north-east) and Knebworth (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Watford (15 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles north), St Albans (9 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east) and Welwyn Garden City (3 miles south).
What’s near Oaklands
Around Oaklands, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Monk's Walk School, Danesbury Park and The North Star pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Welwyn North station, about 1.3 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (4.2 miles south) and Datchworth Museum (1.5 miles east). For a walk, there is Mardley Heath.
Why act early in Oaklands
Quotes from contractors set out the work they want to carry out. An independent survey tells you the roof’s condition first so you know what you are asking contractors to price. Arranging work in a smaller place like Oaklands is easier with notice than in an emergency. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Oaklands
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
When you need someone else
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Who pays under the lease (that is a legal question)
- Roof areas we weren’t given access to
- Walls, floors and services beyond the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Blocks of flats
- Shared roofs
- Gutters and downpipes
- Rented houses
- Flat roofs on blocks
- Converted houses
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask residents to report damp straight away
- Book gutter clearing at least once a year
- Act on high-priority defects quickly
- Arrange flat access in advance
The report comes with photos and written recommendations ranked by urgency where relevant. It is emailed to you ready to pass on to whoever needs it.
Encourage residents to tell you about leaks or damp right away. The sooner you know, the smaller the problem usually is.
What we are asked to look at in Oaklands
On a shared roof, it is not always clear who should act. Each party may assume someone else is dealing with it, so maintenance gets put off. An independent report helps everyone see the facts.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Cracked or leaning shared chimneys
- Worn ridges, hips and verges
- Ceiling stains reported by tenants
- Damaged party-wall upstands or parapets
Trees in and around Danesbury Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- What the survey will not cover
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Towns and villages near Oaklands
Also in Oaklands
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. Parking around Oaklands is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- We agree which roofs and which parts of the building are included.
- Access to flats and the loft space is arranged with you in advance.
- Each roof is checked as far as it can safely be seen, including from inside where possible.
- We photograph each defect and note how urgent it looks.
- We send a written report you can use to plan maintenance and budgets.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Read more
Checking the roof from ground level
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.