Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Brighton
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Brighton, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Brighton
Buyers in Brighton and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us. If you’ve noticed sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and the roof space alike.
Flats above shops, converted houses and newer blocks are common in places the size of Brighton. For a flat, the roof is normally a shared part of the building, so the lease matters. If the roof is newly replaced, whoever paid for it will want the work checked before signing it off.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Brighton (BN1, BN2, BN3)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos. As for time on site, it normally takes about one to two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Town-centre streets in Brighton can mean pay-and-display or permit parking, so a word about where to park saves time. Inside, the loft and any room with a stain are the places we will want to see. Outside, we work round the building to find the safe viewpoints.
- 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.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Towns and villages near Brighton
Other services in Brighton
Common questions in Brighton
Do you carry out roof surveys in Brighton?
Yes, Brighton is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Brighton?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How soon is the report ready?
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 as you book.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will you need to get into the loft?
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 look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
When to book a survey in Brighton
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If you own a rental within reach of London Road (Brighton) station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What exactly goes into their report
- When you’ll get the report
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Brighton: local notes
Brighton is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. With Royal Pavilion about 0.8 miles south-west, Brighton sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to St Martin's Church: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Brighton is in Brighton and Hove. Roofs in Brighton get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Brighton and Hove. We cover towns and villages across Brighton and Hove, large and small.
Every address in BN1, BN2 and BN3 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include London Road, Isetta Square and Pelham Square. Main roads around Brighton include the A23 and A259, which makes travel easy. We also cover Hanover (1 mile south), Carlton Hill (1 mile south), West Hill (1 mile west), Hollingdean (1 mile north) and Seven Dials (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Hangleton (3 miles west), Saltdean (4 miles south-east), East Saltdean (5 miles south-east) and Rottingdean (3 miles south-east). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, Brighton has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Landmarks near Brighton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, William Clarke Park and Park Crescent pub and the streets around them. Brighton has its own railway station: London Road (Brighton) station. Other landmarks nearby include Brighton General Hospital (0.7 miles east) and Old Police Cells Museum (1 mile south-west). Open spaces near Brighton include Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. Whatever the age of a roof in Brighton, small defects only grow if they’re left. What starts as a cracked flashing or a blocked outlet becomes wet timber and stained ceilings in time.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- Prices that include VAT
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.