Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Fairlands
A careful look at the roof at your property in Fairlands, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Fairlands: what you get
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 helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We’re often asked to look into worn or lifted lead flashings and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on the roof space, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
For a small place like Fairlands, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Fairlands (GU3)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Places near Fairlands
More services for Fairlands
Honest limits
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Landlords, agents and block managers in Fairlands
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
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. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a hamlet or village like Fairlands, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- 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 the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
FAQs for Fairlands
Is Fairlands within the area you cover?
Yes, Fairlands is covered. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is Fairlands in the area you cover?
Yes, Fairlands is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Fairlands as anywhere else.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Fairlands homes and their roofs
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Guildford Castle, about 2.8 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fairlands. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. Landlords with a home close to Guildford station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Take an older house close to St Alban's Church: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Fairlands is about 2 miles north-west of Guildford, in Surrey. Fairlands gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. Across Surrey, we cover Fairlands.
We survey roofs across the GU3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Dynevor Place, Brooke Forest and Kiln Meadows or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Wood Street Village (1 mile south-west), Worplesdon (1 mile north), Willey Green (2 miles west), Stanford Common (2 miles north-west) and Onslow Village (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Woking (4 miles north-east), Camberley (7 miles north-west), Farnham (8 miles south-west), Egham (12 miles north), Walton-on-Thames (12 miles north-east) and Dorking (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in Fairlands
Around Fairlands, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Chitty's Common, Hare and Hounds pub and Kings College Guildford and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Guildford station, roughly 2.4 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Guildford Castle (2.8 miles south-east) and Guildford Cathedral Treasury (1.9 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Littlefield Common and Pewley Hill.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.