West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Balcombe, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe
We survey roofs for buyers in Balcombe and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. If you’ve noticed quick fixes on flashings and valleys and old water stains in the roof space, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Balcombe are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Balcombe (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
What we cannot see
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Balcombe
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Around Balcombe, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Balcombe: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. About 2.1 miles south-west lies Tyes Place, a reminder of how long the area around Balcombe has been built on. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you own a rental within reach of Balcombe station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Balcombe is about 4 miles north of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. If you are in Balcombe, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex.
We survey roofs across the RH17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on London Road, Stockcroft Road and Deanland Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Balcombe sits on or near the B2036. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Balcombe Lane (1 mile north), Brook Street (2 miles south), Staplefield (2 miles south-west), Worth Abbey (3 miles north) and Whitemans Green (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Crawley (5 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south), Burgess Hill (7 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Balcombe
Balcombe has its own railway station: Balcombe station. Well-known places in the area include Princess Royal Hospital (4.9 miles south) and Cuckfield Museum (3.5 miles south). Open spaces near Balcombe include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
Towns and villages near Balcombe
Also in Balcombe
Tips that help
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Book once your offer is accepted
It’s 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.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Roof area
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
For a price for your roof in Balcombe, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Balcombe: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Balcombe 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.
Is Balcombe in the area you cover?
Yes, Balcombe is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
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 contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Balcombe
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of St Mary, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What exactly goes into their report