Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Brighton and Hove
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Brighton and Hove? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for Brighton and Hove homes and businesses
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Brighton and Hove
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We’re often asked to look into lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, on natural slate, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys.
A good many homes in a town like Brighton and Hove have been extended over the years, often with 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 Brighton and Hove, or a roof just finished there, those joints get a careful look.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Brighton and Hove (BN3, BN41, BN1)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Brighton and Hove
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Brighton and Hove, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, so exposed details get a close look whether you are buying or signing off new work. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Aldrington station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Historic houses like Portslade Manor, about 1.3 miles west, show how far back building around Brighton and Hove goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Brighton and Hove is in England. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Brighton and Hove for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across the surrounding area.
Here we cover the BN3, BN41 and BN1 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on New Church Road, Princes Square and Station Road. Main roads around Brighton and Hove include the A270 and A293. We also cover the places around Brighton and Hove: Aldrington (1 mile south-west), West Blatchington (1 mile north-east), Hove (1 mile south-east), Prestonville (2 miles east) and Brunswick (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Brighton (3 miles east), Carlton Hill (3 miles east), Hanover (3 miles east), Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Hollingdean (3 miles east) and Whitehawk (4 miles east).
Near you in Brighton and Hove
Typical jobs here are in homes near Hove Park, The Drive Prep School and Hove Park School. There is a railway station in Brighton and Hove itself: Aldrington station. Other landmarks nearby include British Engineerium (0.7 miles north-east) and Churchill Square (2.1 miles south-east). Not far away are Thundersbarrow Hill and Ladies Mile.
Why it is worth a survey now in Brighton and Hove
Lots of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Around Brighton and Hove, gutters that overflow soak the wall below. At roof level, a loose tile or tired flashing does the same. Left alone, both only get worse.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Brighton and Hove
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Also near Brighton and Hove
Also in Brighton and Hove
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Brighton and Hove: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Brighton and Hove?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Brighton and Hove?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
How the survey 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, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. A visit in Brighton and Hove runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. Someone needs to let us in, so tell us who that will be.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
To book 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 booking.
Related advice
What we’re asked to look at in Brighton and Hove
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we check.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Take an older house close to Holy Cross Church: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What insurance they carry
Landlord and commercial surveys in Brighton and Hove
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’, and we note how widespread it looks.