London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Portsmouth
Covering 19 places across Portsmouth for pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photos.
Pre-purchase roof survey in every part of Portsmouth
In short: a roof survey before you buy a house or flat. Pick your town below to see the details for your area, or call 07833 053749 to book.
Largest places
Our pre-purchase roof survey service in Portsmouth
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. Typical surveys look at chimney mortar that has eroded and a ridge or slope that dips, across chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes.
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
What affects the price in Portsmouth
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why clients in Portsmouth book us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Local landmarks in Portsmouth
Typical jobs here are in homes near Manor Infant School, Alexandra Park and St Wilfrid. Other local landmarks include The Druids Arms (under half a mile north-east), The Portsmouth Academy (within half a mile south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (0.7 miles south-west). The closest station to Portsmouth is Fratton station, roughly 0.9 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west) and Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (less than half a mile west). Not far away are Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
Homes and roofs across Portsmouth
Across Portsmouth, we check roofs on houses, flats and bungalows, in Southsea, Milton and Landport and well beyond. Older homes bring slate, clay tiles and lead; newer ones concrete tiles and modern membranes.
Several airports in London and South East England have flight restriction zones around them, so every drone flight in Portsmouth is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Flights that need permission only go ahead once it’s given. Parts of Portsmouth are on or near the coast, where roofs face more wind and more salt in the air than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Portsmouth: For landlords with property near Fratton station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. For an older house near a landmark like St Wilfrid, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Portsmouth
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Let us know your timetable
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Common reasons to book include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Portsmouth questions
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. 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 is not right.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Do you cover Portsmouth for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We cover Portsmouth, as part of our work across London and the South East. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when you book.