East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Cousley Wood
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Cousley Wood and the rest of East Sussex. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cousley Wood
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. If you’re worried about slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and worn or lifted lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Cousley Wood, 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. Whether you’re 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. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Cousley Wood (TN5)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
How it works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. In total, it takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Cousley Wood, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Cousley Wood
To price your survey, we look at:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
For a price for your roof in Cousley Wood, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
What happens if roof problems are left?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. 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, and the report is written for you to use. Around Cousley Wood, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why us?
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Cousley Wood homes and their roofs
With Wadhurst Castle about 1.6 miles south-west, Cousley Wood 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you own a rental within reach of Wadhurst station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. If you live in an older home near Rehoboth Chapel, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Cousley Wood is about 6 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. We visit Cousley Wood as part of our work across East Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
We work across TN5 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Newbury's (1 mile north-west), Pell Green (1 mile south-west), Wadhurst (2 miles south-west), Birchett's Green (2 miles south-east) and Shover's Green (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Hailsham (15 miles south), Crowborough (9 miles west), Uckfield (14 miles south-west), Heathfield (9 miles south-west), Upper Horsebridge (15 miles south) and Hellingly (14 miles south).
Near you in Cousley Wood
We work in homes and buildings around The Old Vine Public House. The nearest railway station is Wadhurst station, roughly 2.1 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Ticehurst House Hospital (2.5 miles south-east) and Old Scotney Castle (2.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Bewl Water.
Towns and villages near Cousley Wood
Other services in Cousley Wood
Common questions in Cousley Wood
Do you cover smaller places like Cousley Wood?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you cover Cousley Wood?
Yes, Cousley Wood is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Cousley Wood as anywhere else.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit usually takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.