Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Bitterne Manor
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Bitterne Manor and the rest of Southampton. We survey on any day of the week.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
What affects the price in Bitterne Manor
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- House, block, shop or office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
What to let us know when you contact us
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Bitterne Manor
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you are worried about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gutters choked with leaves and moss, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Around Bitterne Manor, you will mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. Older roofs may still have their original slates or clay tiles, with fixings and underlay that have done a long stint. Whether you’re buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Bitterne Manor (SO18, SO17, SO14)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
How it works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. All in, the survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a smaller place like Bitterne Manor, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Nearby places to Bitterne Manor
Also in Bitterne Manor
Bitterne Manor questions
Do you cover smaller places like Bitterne Manor?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Bitterne Manor, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Bitterne Manor is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually 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. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Bitterne Manor
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. Homes in smaller places like Bitterne Manor can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent view of the roof
See our cost guide or our case studies.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Bitterne Manor homes and their roofs
Bitterne Manor is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Historic houses such as South Stoneham House, about 1.3 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Bitterne Manor goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you let a flat or house near Bitterne station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Denys, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Bitterne Manor is about 1 mile east of Southampton, in Southampton. Wherever you are in Bitterne Manor, we can come and survey your property. We cover towns and villages across Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in SO18, SO17 and SO14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Ivy Road, North Road and South Road, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in St Denys (1 mile north-west), Southampton (1 mile west), Northam (1 mile south), Bitterne Park (1 mile north-east) and Portswood (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west), Eling (5 miles west) and Rownhams (4 miles north-west).
What’s near Bitterne Manor
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bitterne Park School, St Mary's Independent School and Rockstone Place Park and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Bitterne Manor itself: Bitterne station. Well-known places in the area include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.9 miles east) and Netley Castle (3 miles south). For a walk, there is Netley Common.