West Sussex · London and the South East
Earnley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Earnley and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on any day of the week.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Earnley
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Around Earnley, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Pre-purchase roof survey in Earnley: what you get
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you’ve noticed blistered or split felt on a flat roof and loose pots and cracked flaunching, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Earnley are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Earnley (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Earnley
How do I find out if my home in Earnley is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Earnley within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. All in, the survey normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Cottages and farmhouses around Earnley often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Local roofs and buyers in Earnley
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Earnley, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
The streets around a church such as Earnley Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Earnley is about 3 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Earnley can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Earnley is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
All of PO20 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Earnley Manor Close, Bookers Lane and Drove Lane, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Earnley, we cover East Wittering (1 mile west), Almodington (1 mile north-east), Somerley (1 mile north), Shipton Green (2 miles north) and Birdham (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (6 miles north-east), Selsey (3 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Around Earnley
Other landmarks nearby include Selsey Lifeboat Museum (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Earnley includes Pilsey Island.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
What affects the price in Earnley
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium 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
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
What this survey can’t tell you
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space