Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chesterton Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Chesterton from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chesterton
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a close look at it before you are committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. If you are worried about bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and worn or lifted lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Chesterton may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Chesterton (OX26)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Chesterton, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
What we do, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. 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. Older roofs in small places like Chesterton can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- 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 ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Check pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Advice
Nearby places to Chesterton
What else we do in Chesterton
Questions from Chesterton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chesterton?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Chesterton?
Yes, Chesterton is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
It is 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.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Chesterton: local notes
Older buildings may be listed or sit 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. 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 Mary: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. For landlords with property near Bicester Village station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Chesterton is about 2 miles south-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Chesterton can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Chesterton and the places around it. Oxford is in our area too.
All of OX26 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Fortescue Drive, Chestnut Close and Green Lane, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Chesterton, we cover Wendlebury (1 mile south), Merton (2 miles south-east), Ambrosden (3 miles east), Launton (3 miles east) and Fencott (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Oxford (10 miles south), Banbury (14 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles south), Witney (15 miles south-west), Thame (13 miles south-east) and Kidlington (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Chesterton
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bicester School and Red Cow pub and the streets around them. Chesterton’s nearest station is Bicester Village station, about 1.7 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Bicester Avenue (1 mile east) and Ardley Castle (3.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
What we cannot see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys