Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Christmas Common
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Christmas Common, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Local roofs and buyers in Christmas Common
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Christmas Common has a long history of building, with Stonor Park about 2.9 miles south-east. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Christmas Common is about 8 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Christmas Common can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Every address in OX49 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover the places around Christmas Common: Northend (1 mile east), Howe Hill (1 mile south-west), Shirburn (2 miles north-west), Cookley Green (2 miles south-west) and Ibstone (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Oxford (14 miles north-west), Didcot (12 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles west), Thame (8 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles south) and Benson (6 miles west).
Local landmarks in Christmas Common
We work in homes and buildings around Fox And Hounds Inn Public House, among other places. For a walk, there is Bald Hill and Aston Rowant NNR.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Christmas Common
Buyers in Christmas Common and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and chimney mortar that has eroded, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles alike.
In a village or hamlet like Christmas Common, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Christmas Common (OX49)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Christmas Common
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The roof’s overall size
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Nearby places to Christmas Common
More services for Christmas Common
Christmas Common questions
Is Christmas Common within the area you cover?
Yes. Christmas Common is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Is my home in Christmas Common listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
For landlords and managing agents
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Christmas Common can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Check pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Why get it checked now?
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. For an older or listed building in a place like Christmas Common, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Christmas Common
- Prices that include VAT
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
When to book a survey in Christmas Common
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
The streets around a church such as Church of the Nativity are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours