East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in East Hoathly, East Sussex
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in East Hoathly. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Useful tips for East Hoathly property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in East Hoathly
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, while you are not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’re worried about gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older buildings in small places like East Hoathly 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. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- East Hoathly (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
What this survey cannot tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Questions from East Hoathly
Do you cover East Hoathly?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and East Hoathly is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
How do I find out if my home in East Hoathly is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
How do I book a survey in East Hoathly?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we will suggest the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
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. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we cannot promise any saving.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in East Hoathly?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
For landlords with property near Uckfield station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before booking anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Places near East Hoathly
Also in East Hoathly
Pre-purchase roof surveys in East Hoathly: local notes
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. With Horselunges Manor about 4.6 miles south-east, the area around East Hoathly has a long history. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
East Hoathly is about 4 miles south-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Surveys in East Hoathly work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of BN8 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as High Street, London Road and Rectory Close. Other places close to East Hoathly include Halland (1 mile west), Whitesmith (1 mile south), Chiddingly (2 miles south-east), Shortgate (2 miles west) and Blackboys (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (11 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (11 miles south), Lewes (8 miles south-west), Hailsham (6 miles south-east) and Crowborough (9 miles north).
What’s near East Hoathly
Around East Hoathly, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Foresters Arms. The nearest railway station is Uckfield station, roughly 4.2 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Sussex Farm Museum (3.5 miles east) and Tickerage Castle (3.2 miles north). The countryside around East Hoathly includes Selwyns Wood.
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Around East Hoathly, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Tell us about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.