West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cocking, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Cocking.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Cocking
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Cocking may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are 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.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Cocking (GU29)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Cocking
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. For an older or listed building in a place like Cocking, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Towns and villages near Cocking
Other services in Cocking
Landlords, agents and block managers in Cocking
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
When to book a survey in Cocking
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re frequently the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
The streets around a church such as St Catherine of Siena Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their insurance cover
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Cocking
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. About 2.6 miles north lies Cowdray House, a reminder of how long the area around Cocking has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Cocking is about 8 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Roofs in Cocking get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
We work across the GU29 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Bell Lane, The Croft and Cherry Close or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Cocking, we cover Bepton (1 mile north-west), Heyshott Green (1 mile north-east), Cocking Causeway (1 mile north), Heyshott (1 mile east) and Bepton Common (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (12 miles south), Chichester (8 miles south), Selsey (15 miles south), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Emsworth (11 miles south-west) and Rustington (14 miles south-east).
What’s near Cocking
Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Community Hospital (3 miles north) and Midhurst Museum (2.5 miles north). Open spaces near Cocking include Levin Down and Iping and Stedham Commons.
What we do, step by step
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around Cocking, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets in another room
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Cocking: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Cocking?
Yes, Cocking is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Cocking as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cocking?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.