Greater London · London and the South East
New Roof Snagging in Chinatown
We carry out new roof snagging in Chinatown and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Underlay not dressed into the gutter
- Loose or badly finished ridge tiles
- Offcuts and broken tiles left behind
Can I check my roof myself?
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, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
How new roof snagging works in Chinatown
We check the coverings, ridges, verges, hips and valleys plus flashings and roof ventilation. We check the underlay at the eaves where it’s visible, and we look at the gutters too. The report sets out what we found with photographs. Any debris left behind or damage to other parts is recorded too. If you’ve noticed missing or blocked roof ventilation and broken coverings left on a new roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in Chinatown might be any of these. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
The report records the new roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Chinatown (W1F, W1D, W1T)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
A clear list of snags makes the conversation with your roofer easier. It keeps the focus on what can be seen. In Chinatown, as across London, an overflowing gutter soaks the wall below. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
New roof snagging starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chinatown
- Prices that include VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
FAQs for Chinatown
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chinatown?
We cannot 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.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Chinatown?
It rarely stops a survey, but it’s worth planning. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
Is Chinatown in your area?
Yes. We cover Chinatown and the rest of Greater London. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Can you settle a dispute with my builder?
No. Our job is to report on the roof as we find it. Any dispute is between you and your roofer or builder, and the report gives you a clear record to refer to.
What’s the price of a snagging inspection?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The size of the roof and how easy it is to see affect the price. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The loft space can show things the outside can’t, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What new roof snagging looks like in Chinatown
Benjamin Franklin House, about 0.4 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chinatown. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
As a London address, Chinatown can be tricky for parking: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier. If you live in an older home near St Anne's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Chinatown is about 1 mile east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Chinatown and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and the South East. Chinatown is one of the places in Greater London where we work.
Every address in W1F, W1D and W1T is within our area for new roof snagging, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Duck Lane, Drury Lane and Bruton Lane and the roads around them. Chinatown sits on or near the A4 and A301, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Chinatown include 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). Within a short drive, we also cover 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).
What’s near Chinatown
Typical jobs here are in homes near LITE Regal International School, London Library and Waxy O'Connor's pub, among other places. Other local landmarks include St Anne's Churchyard (under 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.
Prices for new roof snagging in Chinatown
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
- House, block, shop or office
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Anything about access we should know
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often have snags at the verges and eaves. They get close attention.
Flashings
Loose or badly dressed flashings are a common snag. We photograph any we find.
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, it normally takes an hour or two for most homes, depending on how much new work there is to check. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is often on a shared landing. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- First, you tell us what the roofer did and any concerns you have.
- The new coverings, ridge, hips and verges are inspected where it is safe to see them.
- Valleys, flashings, gutters and the underlay at the eaves are looked at.
- The roof space is looked at where safe, along with any mess or damage left after the work.
- You get a photo report listing the snags we found.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
Signs you need new roof snagging in Chinatown
Most homeowners can’t get a good look at their new roof. From the pavement, many faults are invisible before you pay.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Loose flashings at walls or chimneys
- Untidy or loose verge details
- Broken coverings left on a new roof
- Cracked lower roofs or marked walls after the work
If you let a flat or house near Tottenham Court Road station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Before you book anyone
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price