Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Bishopsgate, Greater London
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Bishopsgate and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Bishopsgate
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a close look at it before you’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. Typical surveys look at bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, across chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
In London, a good many houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. For a purchase in Bishopsgate, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a proper look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Bishopsgate (E1, EC2A, EC1Y)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Bishopsgate
Landlords, agents and building managers in Bishopsgate and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Bishopsgate?
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
For landlords with property near London Liverpool Street station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Are they insured for the work?
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Bishopsgate
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. About 0.4 miles south-west lies Mansion House, a reminder of how long the area around Bishopsgate has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Ethelburga, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. As a London address, Bishopsgate can be tricky for parking: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier.
Bishopsgate is about 1 mile north-east of London, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Bishopsgate, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Bishopsgate is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
Here we cover the E1, EC2A and EC1Y postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Bush Lane, Swan Lane and Love Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Being close to the A3 and A10, Bishopsgate is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Bishopsgate include Aldgate (1 mile south-east), Spitalfields (1 mile east), City of London (1 mile west), Tower Hill (1 mile south) and Whitechapel (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (3 miles west), Marylebone (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (5 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west) and Ruislip (15 miles west).
Landmarks near Bishopsgate
We work in homes and buildings around Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives, St Mary-at-Hill and The Aldgate School, among other places. Nearby too are White Hart pub (within half a mile north-east), Central Foundation Boys' School (0.7 miles north) and Finsbury Circus (under half a mile north-west). Bishopsgate has its own railway station: London Liverpool Street station. A little further out are London Bridge Hospital (0.7 miles south) and Gabriel's Wharf (1.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include St. James's Park Lake and Tower Hill.
Places near Bishopsgate
More services for Bishopsgate
Leave it or get it looked at?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
What you get with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Common questions in Bishopsgate
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Bishopsgate?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. The restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from Bishopsgate. If a roof falls inside it, we apply for permission before flying, and the flight only goes ahead if it is granted. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
Is my home in Bishopsgate listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Can you survey a shared 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’ll plan the survey around it.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a visit in Bishopsgate, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.