Greater London · London and the South East
Croydon Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Croydon.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Why act early in Croydon
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Croydon
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- A photo-illustrated written report
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Croydon
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and lead flashings and valleys, and people most frequently book us about loose pots and cracked flaunching and flashings that have lifted or split.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in Croydon might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Croydon (CR0, CR2, CR9, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
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.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
What we do, step by step
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Surveys in Croydon can be booked for any day of the week. London parking is often by permit or pay-and-display, so it’s useful to know what’s near you, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Places near Croydon
More services for Croydon
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Let us know your timetable
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Croydon
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Parking in Croydon, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book, as a space near the door cannot be promised. The streets around a church such as St Andrew's are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you own a rental within reach of South Croydon station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Croydon is about 9 miles south of London, in Greater London. We visit Croydon as part of our work across Greater London, for homes and businesses alike. Croydon is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. London is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CR0, CR2, CR9 and CR8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets like High Street, Church Road and Ruskin Square, all of which we cover. Croydon is on the A235 and B243, which makes it simple to reach. Other places close to Croydon include South Croydon (1 mile south), Coombe (1 mile east), Addiscombe (2 miles north-east), Ashburton (2 miles north-east) and Woodside (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (9 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north) and Shoreditch (11 miles north).
Around Croydon
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Cambridge Tutors College, Rutherford School and Keg & Grill pub and the streets around them. Croydon has its own railway station: South Croydon station. Well-known places in the area include Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (1.2 miles south-west) and Croydon University Hospital (1.7 miles north). For a walk, there’s Roundshaw Downs and Duppas Hill.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It’s useful to include:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Questions from Croydon
How do I find out if my home in Croydon is listed?
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.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Croydon?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. 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. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you as you book.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Do you cover Croydon for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We cover Croydon and the rest of Greater London. For a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Croydon?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.