Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Bicester Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Bicester. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blocked or leaking gutters
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Bicester
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Typical surveys look at lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and old water stains in the roof space, across clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and chimney stacks.
Plenty of homes in a town like Bicester have been extended over the years, and many of those additions have flat roofs. Where an extension roof meets the main house is a classic place for water to get in. For a home you are buying in Bicester, or a roof just finished there, those joints get a careful look.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Bicester (OX26, OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Bicester
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask.
For landlords with property near Bicester North station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Edburg, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Bicester is about 11 miles north of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Bicester is one of many places we visit across Oxfordshire. Bicester is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across OX26 and OX27 for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Market Square, Market End Way and London Road and the roads around them. Bicester sits on or near the A4095 and B4100, which makes travel easy. Close by, we survey roofs in Bure Park (1 mile north), Caversfield (1 mile north), Bucknell (2 miles north-west), Stratton Audley (3 miles north-east) and Stoke Lyne (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (11 miles south), Banbury (14 miles north-west), Thame (13 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (10 miles south) and St John Street area (11 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Oxfordshire, Bicester has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Bicester
Around Bicester, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Bicester Technology Studio and The Plough pub and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Bicester itself: Bicester North station. Nearby you will also find Bicester Community Hospital (under half a mile south) and Bicester Village (0.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
FAQs for Bicester
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bicester?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover Bicester?
Yes, Bicester is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
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 booking.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Bicester
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
Places near Bicester
What else we do in Bicester
Practical tips
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Tell us your exchange date when booking
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.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Why act early in Bicester
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today. Blocked gutters and downpipes on homes in Bicester overflow onto walls. A slipped tile or worn flashing does the same higher up. Neither gets better on its own.
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Bicester
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
How the survey works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit typically takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Bicester often share a roof line with the neighbours, so we check what can be seen of the shared parts from your side. It is useful to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.