Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in East Hendred
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in East Hendred, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
About our pre-purchase roof survey in East Hendred
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for 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 want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed a ridge or slope that dips and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as East Hendred, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, 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.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- East Hendred (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Places near East Hendred
More services for East Hendred
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take an hour or two on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Rural addresses near East Hendred can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Advice
East Hendred homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Augustine of Canterbury are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
East Hendred is about 4 miles east of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Whether the building in East Hendred is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes East Hendred and the places around it. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Here we cover the OX12 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Chapel Square, High Street and Old Road. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include West Hendred (1 mile west), Rowstock (1 mile east), Ardington (2 miles west), East Lockinge (2 miles south-west) and West Ilsley (4 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (12 miles north-east), Didcot (4 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles north-east), Witney (15 miles north-west), Wantage (4 miles west) and Grove (4 miles west).
Landmarks near East Hendred
We work in homes and buildings around The Wheatsheaf Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Didcot Parkway station, about 4.2 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Atlas Computer Laboratory (1.8 miles south-east) and Abingdon Community Hospital (5.2 miles north). For a walk, there is Mowbray Fields and Chain Hill.
When you need someone else
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in East Hendred
Is my home in East Hendred listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to East Hendred?
Yes, East Hendred is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit typically takes an hour or two at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS 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 our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
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 can’t flow.
Surveys for landlords and agents in East Hendred
Landlords and letting agents in East Hendred book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in East Hendred
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
Look out for signs like these:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If you let a flat or house near Didcot Parkway station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before booking anyone
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours