Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Dulwich
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Dulwich. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Dulwich
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Typical surveys look at quick fixes on flashings and valleys and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, across clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Dulwich 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.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Dulwich (SE22, SE21, SE23)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. Work on a London roof is rarely simple to arrange, with parking, neighbours and access all to think about. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly, rather than in a rush after a leak.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why book us in Dulwich
- Visits on any day of the week
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- 98% of clients satisfied
Common roof problems in Dulwich
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Blocked or leaking gutters
If you let a flat or house near West Dulwich station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
What to check before booking
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- When you will get the report
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether VAT is added on top
Towns and villages near Dulwich
More services for Dulwich
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Useful tips for Dulwich property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
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. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Dulwich
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a London area like Dulwich, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from the ground, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
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Common questions in Dulwich
How do I find out if my home in Dulwich is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Dulwich?
It rarely stops a survey, but it’s worth planning. Let us know what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
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.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Dulwich: local notes
Kingswood House, about 1.1 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Dulwich. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Take an older house close to Christ's Chapel of God's Gift: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Dulwich.
Dulwich is about 1 mile south-east of Herne Hill, in Greater London. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Dulwich for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Every address in SE22, SE21 and SE23 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Court Lane, Druce Road and Boxall Road or a nearby road, we can help. Main roads around Dulwich include the A2216, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Dulwich include Dulwich Village (1 mile north-west), West Dulwich (1 mile south), Herne Hill (1 mile north-west), Sydenham Hill (1 mile south-east) and Forest Hill (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (4 miles north), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles north-west), St Pancras (6 miles north) and Shoreditch (6 miles north).
What’s near Dulwich
Around Dulwich, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Crown and Greyhound pub, Dulwich Park and Alleyn's School. The nearest railway station is West Dulwich station, roughly 0.7 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Dulwich Community Hospital (0.9 miles north) and Greenwich Castle (4 miles north-east). Not far away are Knight's Hill and Centre for Wildlife Gardening.