Hampshire · London and the South East
Emery Down Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Emery Down, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Emery Down
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Christ Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Emery Down is about 5 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Emery Down for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Emery Down is one of the places in Hampshire where we work. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Here we cover the SO43 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Garden Close, Northerwood Avenue and Silver Street, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Lyndhurst (1 mile east), Balmerlawn (3 miles south), Ashurst (4 miles north-east), Brockenhurst (4 miles south) and Colbury (4 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastleigh (12 miles north-east), Totton (5 miles north-east), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles east), Lymington (8 miles south) and Romsey (10 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Emery Down
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Swan Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 2.9 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Ashurst Hospital (3.1 miles north-east) and National Dairy Museum (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Copythorne Common.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Emery Down
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
In a village or hamlet like Emery Down, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, 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.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Emery Down (SO43)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Emery Down
How do I find out if my home in Emery Down 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.
Do you cover Emery Down?
Yes, Emery Down is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when you book.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details as you book.
Also near Emery Down
Also in Emery Down
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Emery Down
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
If you own a rental within reach of Ashurst New Forest station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What they will not be able to tell you
What this survey can’t tell you
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
The survey, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes between one and two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like Emery Down needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is 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
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Emery Down
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Why act early in Emery Down
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Older and listed buildings around Emery Down may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Clear package prices, with VAT included