Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Coldharbour, Greater London
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Coldharbour and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Coldharbour
Queen's House, about 1.5 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Coldharbour. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport covers Coldharbour, or comes right up to its edge. If your survey includes the drone, we ask the airport for permission first, and only fly if it is given.
Coldharbour is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when booking. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near All Saints Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. If you own a rental within reach of Canary Wharf station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Coldharbour is about 2 miles north of Greenwich, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Coldharbour and the rest of Greater London. Coldharbour is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Every address in E14, SE10 and E22 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Canada Square, Simpson's Road and Amsterdam Road. Being close to the A1206 and A1261, Coldharbour is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Blackwall (1 mile north-east), London Docklands (1 mile west), Poplar (1 mile north-west), Canary Wharf (1 mile west) and Heron Quays (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover London (4 miles west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles west) and Shoreditch (3 miles north-west).
Near you in Coldharbour
Typical jobs here are in homes near Canary Wharf College 3, Mudchute Park and Farm and Tower Hamlets College. The nearest railway station is Canary Wharf station, roughly 0.5 miles north-west. A little further out are Old Royal Naval College (1.3 miles south) and Poplar Hospital (0.6 miles north). The countryside around Coldharbour includes Tower Hill and Lavender Pond.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Coldharbour
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
In London, plenty of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Every alteration brings new junctions, flashings and flat-roof areas to look at. If you’re buying a flat or house in Coldharbour, or have just had new roofing work done, those junctions are often where problems start. Lead work around dormers and new flat roofs is easy to get wrong and easy to miss.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Coldharbour (E14, SE10, E22)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when you book.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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 is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Coldharbour questions
Is drone flying allowed in Coldharbour?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport covers Coldharbour, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. The restricted area over the Isle of Dogs, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from Coldharbour. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which isn’t always given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Is my home in Coldharbour listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photographs. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Also near Coldharbour
Other services in Coldharbour
Leave it or get it looked at?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on any day of the week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Prices that include VAT
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition