Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Coombe, Greater London
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Coombe, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Coombe
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. Typical surveys look at a ridge or slope that dips and chimney mortar that has eroded, on lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in Coombe might be any of these. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Coombe (CR0, CR2, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets in another room
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Coombe, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Places near Coombe
Also in Coombe
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Coombe
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- What’s prompted the survey
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Coombe
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: 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.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you’re tied in, with photos of anything that needs attention. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Package prices that include VAT
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Coombe
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. With Addington Palace about 1.3 miles east, Coombe sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Coombe is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when booking, as a space near the door cannot be promised. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church Hall United Reformed Church Of St Paul, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near South Croydon station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Coombe is about 1 mile east of Croydon, in Greater London. Anywhere in Coombe, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in London.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CR0, CR2 and CR9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Oaks Road, Coombe Road and Coombe Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Croydon (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile north), South Croydon (1 mile south-west), Shirley Oaks (1 mile north-east) and Shirley (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include London (9 miles north), City of Westminster (11 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north) and Shoreditch (11 miles north).
Near you in Coombe
We work in homes and buildings around Coombe Lodge pub, Royal Russell School and St Peter's Primary School. The nearest railway station is South Croydon station, roughly 1 mile west. Well-known places in the area include St George's Walk (1.4 miles north-west) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2.1 miles west). For a walk, there’s Bramley Bank and Duppas Hill.
Common questions in Coombe
Is parking a problem for a survey in Coombe?
It can be, so it’s useful to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Coombe?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and 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. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
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, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.