West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Compton, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Compton, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Old water stains in the loft space
- A ridge or slope that dips
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Compton
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’re worried about signs of past leaks inside the loft and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and the roof space alike.
Somewhere as small as Compton, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Compton (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Compton
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from the ground.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- When you’ll get the report
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Landlord and commercial surveys in Compton
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Compton: your questions answered
Is Compton within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in Compton listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from the ground, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Compton often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Compton, phone 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Honest limits
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
Leave it or get it looked at?
A mortgage valuation isn’t a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it will not look closely at the roof. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer. For an older or listed building in a place like Compton, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Compton
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Package prices that include VAT
- Every finding written up with photos
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Nearby places to Compton
Also in Compton
Local roofs and buyers in Compton
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. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. About 1.8 miles north lies Uppark, a reminder of how long the area around Compton has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Rowlands Castle station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Compton is about 5 miles east of Horndean, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Compton can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Every address in PO18 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Church Lane and School Lane. If you are just outside Compton, we cover East Marden (2 miles east), South Harting (3 miles north), East Harting (3 miles north-east), Chilgrove (4 miles east) and Elsted (4 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (13 miles south-east), Chichester (8 miles south-east), Selsey (14 miles south), Emsworth (6 miles south), Portfield (9 miles south-east) and Yapton (15 miles south-east).
Around Compton
In Compton, that means homes and buildings near The Coach And Horses Public House. The closest station to Compton is Rowlands Castle station, roughly 3.6 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Petersfield Community Hospital (5.7 miles north) and Clanfield Earthwork (4 miles west). Open spaces near Compton include Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Compton Down.
DIY checks: what’s safe
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.