Greater London · London and the South East
Broadwater Farm Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Broadwater Farm? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Broadwater Farm
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey gutters and downpipes, natural slate and the roof space, and people most often book us about standing water on a flat extension roof and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
London terraces and converted houses often share a roof line, chimney stacks and gutters with the house next door. For a purchase or a new roof in Broadwater Farm, that shapes what can be checked: we inspect what we are given access to and can see safely, which may not include a neighbour’s side. If it’s a flat, the lease normally sets out who is responsible for the roof.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Broadwater Farm (N17, N15, N22)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Broadwater Farm
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Historic houses such as Bruce Castle, about 0.4 miles north-east, show how far back building around Broadwater Farm goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- When you will get the report
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What follow-up you get after the report
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What we need to know
We will usually ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Why it is worth a survey now in Broadwater Farm
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer. In Broadwater Farm, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- A photo-illustrated written report
Common questions in Broadwater Farm
Is parking a problem for a survey in Broadwater Farm?
Parking in Broadwater Farm, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly.
How do I find out if my home in Broadwater Farm is listed?
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.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Do you cover Broadwater Farm?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Broadwater Farm included.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Broadwater Farm
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you let a flat or house near Bruce Grove station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Parking in Broadwater Farm, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
Broadwater Farm is about 2 miles south-west of Edmonton, in Greater London. Bookings from Broadwater Farm are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London.
We work across the N17, N15 and N22 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Road, Ripon Road and Clyde Road. Broadwater Farm is on the A10, which makes it straightforward to reach. If you’re just outside Broadwater Farm, we cover Tottenham (1 mile east), West Green (1 mile south-west), Tottenham Green (1 mile south-east), Duckett's Green (1 mile south-west) and South Tottenham (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover London (7 miles south), City of Westminster (6 miles south-west), Marylebone (6 miles south-west), Kensington (8 miles south-west), St Pancras (5 miles south) and Shoreditch (5 miles south).
Local landmarks in Broadwater Farm
In Broadwater Farm, that means homes and buildings near Park View School, Bruce Castle Park and Bruce Castle School and the streets around them. The closest station to Broadwater Farm is Bruce Grove station, about 0.5 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Markfield Beam Engine and Museum (1.2 miles south-east) and North Middlesex University Hospital (1.3 miles north). For a walk, there is Railway Fields and Hollow Pond.
When you need someone else
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Towns and villages near Broadwater Farm
More services for Broadwater Farm
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It typically takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Broadwater Farm we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.