West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chichester, West Sussex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Chichester.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. A typical visit in Chichester begins with the street side of the roof and then moves round the building. The back garden is frequently where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen, so unlocked gates help. Then, if it can be reached safely, we look in the loft.
- 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.
- 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
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
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Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Chichester
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey the roof space, natural slate and chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and quick fixes on flashings and valleys.
In a town the size of Chichester, most homes are houses rather than flats, so the roof usually belongs to the property you’re buying or paying for. That makes a roof defect a cost that falls on you: better found before exchange or final payment than after. With photographs and written recommendations, you have clear points to take back to the seller or the roofer.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Chichester (PO19, PO20, PO18, PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Chichester
How do I find out if my home in Chichester 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.
Are there drone restrictions around Chichester?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Chichester is about 2 miles from Goodwood Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. 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 it applies.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Chichester?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Buying a home or a new roof in Chichester
Chichester lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If you let a flat or house near Chichester station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Goodwood House lies about 2.7 miles north-east, so building around Chichester goes back a long way. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Chichester is about 27 miles east of Southampton, in West Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Chichester, we can survey the roof. Across West Sussex, we cover Chichester. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO19, PO20, PO18 and PO10 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on St Martin's Square, Market Road and Old Market Avenue and the roads around them. You will find Chichester on the A27 and A259, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Chichester include Portfield (1 mile east), Westhampnett (1 mile north-east), Shopwyke (2 miles east), Maudlin (2 miles north-east) and East Lavant (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (5 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles east). As one of the bigger places in West Sussex, Chichester has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Local landmarks in Chichester
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chichester High School For Girls, George and Dragon Inn and Central C of E Junior School, among other places. Chichester’s nearest station is Chichester station, roughly 0.6 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Novium Museum (less than half a mile south) and Chichester Castle (less than half a mile east). For a walk, there is Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
What happens if roof problems are left?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. On a house in a town like Chichester, wet loft insulation stops working and can stay damp for a long time. That’s an extra cost on top of the roof work itself.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chichester
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Common roof problems in Chichester
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
The streets around a church like Church of St Paul are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How long the report takes to arrive
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
Also near Chichester
Also in Chichester
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: 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.
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Share the report with your solicitor
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.