Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cheam, Greater London
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Cheam. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Cheam
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’ve noticed gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and signs of past leaks inside the loft, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
London terraces and converted houses frequently share a roof line, chimney stacks and gutters with the house next door. That matters for anyone buying in Cheam or checking a new roof there: only the parts we are given access to and can see safely are inspected. If it’s a flat, the lease normally sets out who is responsible for the roof.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Cheam (SM2, SM3, SM1)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Cheam
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Cheam?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
How do I find out if my home in Cheam is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit typically takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. If you have questions on the day, just ask. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Cheam moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Cheam
With Nonsuch Mansion about 1 mile north-west, Cheam sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to Church of St Andrew: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Parking in Cheam, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking, as a space near the door cannot be promised. If you let a flat or house near Cheam station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Cheam is about 1 mile south-west of Sutton, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Cheam can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We work across the SM2, SM3 and SM1 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Wray Road, York Road and The Avenue and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Belmont (1 mile south-east), Cuddington (1 mile north-west), North Looe (1 mile south-west), North Cheam (2 miles north) and Nork (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover London (12 miles north-east), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (12 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Cheam
Around Cheam, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Avenue Primary Academy, Howell Hill and Overton Grange School, among other places. The closest station to Cheam is Cheam station, roughly 0.6 miles north of the centre. Nearby you will also find The Ashley Centre (2.7 miles south-west) and Chessington Castle Hill (3.5 miles west). The countryside around Cheam includes Duppas Hill and Belmont Pastures.
Also near Cheam
Also in Cheam
Surveys for landlords and agents in Cheam
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we check each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Cheam
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Cheam
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Anything about access we should know
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Checking the roof from the ground
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. Don’t go up yourself.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.