Essex · London and the South East
Landlord Roof Survey in Ridgewell
Roof condition reports for landlords, agents and blocks of flats for Ridgewell and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Missing or loose roof coverings
- Cracked or leaning shared chimneys
About our landlord roof survey in Ridgewell
Shared roofs on blocks, converted houses and terraces raise their own questions. We inspect the roof as far as it can be seen safely, 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. We can only inspect the parts of a shared roof we’re allowed to reach. If you’re worried about missing or loose roof coverings and worn ridges, hips and verges, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a small place like Ridgewell, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Ridgewell (CO9)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a landlord roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Keep roof surveys on a rolling plan
- Keep roof outlets and gutters clear
- Give tenants a simple way to report leaks
- Deal with urgent items first
Questions about the findings are welcome. With the Standard Survey there is a follow-up consultation, and Premium includes an in-person consultation.
Get gutters and roof outlets cleared at least once a year and include any valley or parapet gutters. Blocked gutters are a common cause of leaks into top-floor flats.
Nearby places to Ridgewell
More services for Ridgewell
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What affects the price in Ridgewell
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
If you’re 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 phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Roof by roof
Party-wall upstands and parapets
Where a roof is shared with neighbours, we can only inspect what we’re given access to, and the report says what was seen.
Flat roofs on blocks and rear additions
Felt flat roofs often need replacing after around 15–20 years, so knowing roughly how old the roof is helps.
Local roofs in Ridgewell
With Hedingham Castle about 4.4 miles south-east, Ridgewell 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Lawrence, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ridgewell Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Ridgewell is in Essex. Ridgewell is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the CO9 postcode area for landlord roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Mill Road, Rose Walk and Colne Springs and the roads around them. Other places close to Ridgewell include Wesley End (1 mile south-west), Oaker Hill (1 mile south-east), Baythorne End (1 mile north-west) and Stambourne (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Braintree (11 miles south), Saffron Walden (12 miles west), Halstead (8 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (14 miles south-west), Great Notley (12 miles south) and Bocking (11 miles south).
What’s near Ridgewell
We work in homes and buildings around The King's Head Public House and Stoke College, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Clare Castle (3.5 miles north-east) and Toppesfield Museum of The Working Horse (2.2 miles south).
What we can’t see
A survey is a careful look at the let or shared roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
- Walls, floors and services beyond the roof
- Parts of the roof we cannot safely see or access
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Shared roofs
- Rented houses
- Blocks of flats
- Converted houses
- Flat roofs on blocks
Common questions in Ridgewell
Do you cover Ridgewell?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Is my home in Ridgewell listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you look in the roof space?
Typically, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes about one to two hours for a single let house, with blocks of flats taking longer. Around Ridgewell, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We agree which roofs and which parts of the building are included.
- We confirm which flats and loft spaces we need to get into, and you arrange access.
- The roofs are inspected from ground level, vantage points, the roof space and the roof where it’s safe.
- Defects are photographed and their urgency noted.
- We send a written report you can use to plan maintenance and budgets.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.