East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cooksbridge, East Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Cooksbridge from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Common questions in Cooksbridge
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cooksbridge?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is Cooksbridge in the area you cover?
Yes, Cooksbridge is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I book a survey in Cooksbridge?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
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.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Cooksbridge
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Typical surveys look at slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and worn or lifted lead flashings, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
In a village or hamlet like Cooksbridge, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, 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.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Cooksbridge (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Cooksbridge
What else we do in Cooksbridge
What we are asked to look at in Cooksbridge
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blocked or leaking gutters
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the survey won’t cover
Local roofs and buyers in Cooksbridge
Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. With Anne of Cleves House about 2.5 miles south, Cooksbridge sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you own a rental within reach of Cooksbridge station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Cooksbridge is about 2 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Cooksbridge for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our East Sussex coverage includes Cooksbridge. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Every address in BN8 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Station Mews, Chatfield Close and Chandler's Mead, all of which we cover. Other places close to Cooksbridge include Chiltington (1 mile north-west), Barcombe (1 mile north-east), Barcombe Cross (2 miles north-east), Barcombe Mills (2 miles north-east) and Upper Wellingham (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south-east), Hailsham (12 miles east), Crowborough (13 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (8 miles south).
What’s near Cooksbridge
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Rainbow Inn, among other places. Cooksbridge has its own railway station: Cooksbridge station. Well-known places in the area include Lewes Victoria Hospital (2 miles south) and Lewes Castle (2.3 miles south). Not far away are Malling Down and Offham Hill.
What happens on the day
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. For a village or hamlet like Cooksbridge, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Tell us about parking before the day
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. It is useful to include:
- Anything about access we should know
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers