East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Budlett's Common, East Sussex
A careful look at the roof at your property in Budlett's Common, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Budlett's Common: what you get
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. Typical surveys look at roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes.
Somewhere as small as Budlett's Common, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Budlett's Common (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Budlett's Common?
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Five Ash Down Independent Chapel, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Nearby places to Budlett's Common
Also in Budlett's Common
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit normally takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Budlett's Common, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
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Budlett's Common: your questions answered
Will you come out to Budlett's Common?
Yes. Budlett's Common is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you cover Budlett's Common?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Budlett's Common is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the property.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long does the survey visit take?
It normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
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 isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Budlett's Common
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Budlett's Common homes and their roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Landlords with a home close to Uckfield station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Budlett's Common is about 1 mile north of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Budlett's Common. Budlett's Common is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in TN22 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Maresfield (1 mile north-west), Down Street (2 miles west), Ridgewood (2 miles south), Little Horsted (3 miles south) and Founthill (4 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (9 miles south-west), Hailsham (11 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north-east), Newhaven (14 miles south) and Peacehaven (14 miles south).
Around Budlett's Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near West Park, Uckfield College and Ringles Cross pub, among other places. Budlett's Common’s nearest station is Uckfield station, about 1.5 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Tickerage Castle (2.7 miles south-east) and Uckfield Community Hospital (1.7 miles south). Not far away are Brickfield Meadow.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
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.
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- House, block, shop or office
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Helping us price your survey
We will normally ask about:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.