Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Downton, Hampshire
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Downton. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
FAQs for Downton
Is the coastal weather around Downton hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
How do I find out if my home in Downton is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you cover Downton for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs in Downton and the rest of Hampshire. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically 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. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Downton
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most often book us about damp timbers or stains in the loft and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
Older buildings in small places like Downton may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Downton (SO41)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask for loft access on the day
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, especially where we have found patch repairs.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
When to book a survey in Downton
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which matters if work is needed.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of All Saints, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Questions to ask before booking
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Buying a home or a new roof in Downton
Downton is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Historic houses such as Highcliffe Castle, about 4.2 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Downton goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you let a flat or house near New Milton station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Downton is about 3 miles west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Roofs in Downton get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Hampshire. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton.
We cover every part of SO41 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Hordle Lane and Shorefield Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Leagreen (1 mile east), Hordle (1 mile north), Ashley (2 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (2 miles west) and New Milton (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Totton (13 miles north), Lymington (3 miles east), Hythe (13 miles north-east), Ringwood (10 miles north-west), Dibden Purlieu (12 miles north-east) and Marchwood (13 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Downton
Around Downton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Arnewood School, among other places. The nearest railway station is New Milton station, roughly 2 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Lymington New Forest Hospital (3.7 miles north-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Downton includes Milford on Sea LNR.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Rural addresses near Downton can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In a place like Downton, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Package prices that include VAT
- Every finding written up with photos
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Downton
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Towns and villages near Downton
More services for Downton
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.