London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Southampton
Covering 40 places across Southampton for pre-purchase roof surveys, with prices that include VAT and surveys on weekdays and weekends.
Where we work in Southampton
What it covers: a roof survey before you buy a house or flat. Every town and village has its own page, listed below, or call 07833 053749 to book.
Larger towns
About pre-purchase roof surveys in Southampton
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both. Common reasons to book are a ridge or slope that dips and chimney mortar that has eroded, on natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles.
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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 Southampton
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
What you get with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Around Southampton
In Southampton, that means homes and buildings near Saint Mary's, St Mary's Independent School and Rockstone Place Park and the streets around them. Nearby too are Bevois Town Primary School (under half a mile west), The Hobbit pub (under half a mile west) and St Anne's Catholic School (0.6 miles south-west). There is a railway station in Southampton itself: St Denys station. Well-known places in the area include Marlands Shopping Centre (1 mile south-west) and R J Mitchell Museum (0.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Southampton includes Netley Common.
Buying a home or a new roof across Southampton
The roofs we see across Southampton run from slate and clay tile on older houses to concrete tiles and membranes on newer ones. For a purchase or a new roof, the materials and the age of the work shape what we look at.
Several airports in London and South East England have flight restriction zones around them, so the Drone Safety Map is checked before any drone flight in Southampton. Where permission is needed, the flight waits for it. Coastal towns and villages in Southampton see more salt and wind than places inland, which wears metal fixings and flashings faster. After a storm, the seaward side of a roof is the place to look first.
Southampton: Take an older house close to Saint Mary's: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Historic houses such as Southampton Tudor House and Garden, about 1.4 miles south, show how far back building around Southampton goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Why roofs fail
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It’s often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Why act early?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow.
Questions to ask before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Will the report include photos?
- What the survey will not cover
Landlords, agents and block managers in Southampton
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What this survey can’t tell you
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
FAQs for Southampton
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Southampton?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.