Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cannon Hill, Greater London
A careful look at the roof at your property in Cannon Hill, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cannon Hill
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed loose pots and cracked flaunching and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles alike.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, and a home in Cannon Hill could be any of them. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Cannon Hill (SW20, SM4, KT3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Leave it or get it looked at?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In Cannon Hill, as across London, an overflowing gutter soaks the wall below. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Cannon Hill
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Cannon Hill
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. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. About 1.2 miles north-west lies Southside House, a reminder of how long the area around Cannon Hill has been built on. 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.
For landlords with property near South Merton station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. Parking in Cannon Hill, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier.
Cannon Hill is about 1 mile north-west of Morden, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Cannon Hill across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small. London is in our area too.
We work across the SW20, SM4 and KT3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Aylward Road, Camborne Road and Botsford Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Cannon Hill: Bushey Mead (1 mile north-west), Raynes Park (1 mile west), Wimbledon Chase (1 mile north), West Barnes (1 mile west) and Merton Park (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (9 miles north-east), City of Westminster (8 miles north), Marylebone (9 miles north), Kensington (7 miles north), St Pancras (10 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-east).
What’s near Cannon Hill
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Edward Rayne pub, Cannon Hill Common and Harris Academy Wimbledon. The closest station to Cannon Hill is South Merton station, about 0.5 miles north-east. A little further out are St. Anthony's Hospital (1.5 miles south) and Wimbledon Museum (1.6 miles north). The countryside around Cannon Hill includes Cherry Wood and Henman Hill.
FAQs for Cannon Hill
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cannon Hill?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Cannon Hill?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
How do I book a survey in Cannon Hill?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof. We survey seven days a week.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it’s safe, yes. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
Useful tips for Cannon Hill property owners
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Let us know your timetable
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Nearby places to Cannon Hill
What else we do in Cannon Hill
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Cannon Hill moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Tell us who holds the keys.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Cannon Hill?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Common reasons to book include:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blocked or leaking gutters
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St James Merton, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether you get a written report with photos
For landlords and managing agents
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.