West Sussex · London and the South East
Balcombe Lane Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe Lane and across West Sussex.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe Lane
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’re worried about gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it.
Older buildings in small places like Balcombe Lane may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Balcombe Lane (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes an hour or two at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Balcombe Lane, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe Lane?
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Landlords with a home close to Balcombe station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Balcombe Lane questions
How do I find out if my home in Balcombe Lane is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Balcombe Lane?
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 booking.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when you book.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photographs. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Balcombe Lane
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Request records of any re-roofing
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Nearby places to Balcombe Lane
Other services in Balcombe Lane
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Balcombe Lane: local notes
About 3 miles south-west lies Tyes Place, a reminder of how long the area around Balcombe Lane has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Balcombe Lane is about 4 miles south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Balcombe Lane and nearby. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RH17. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Balcombe (1 mile south), Worth Abbey (2 miles north-east), Furnace Green (2 miles north-west), Pease Pottage (3 miles west) and Staplefield (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Crawley (4 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (5 miles south), Burgess Hill (8 miles south), East Grinstead (6 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Balcombe Lane
Typical jobs here are in homes near Oriel High School, among other places. The closest station to Balcombe Lane is Balcombe station, roughly 1.3 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Crawley Museum (3.9 miles north-west) and Waterbury Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Not far away are Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.