Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Falmer, Brighton and Hove
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Falmer, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Falmer
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. We’re often asked to look into standing water on a flat extension roof and slipped or missing slates and tiles, on lead flashings and valleys, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and the roof space.
For a small place like Falmer, 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 as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Falmer (BN1)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs.
Buying a home or a new roof in Falmer
Falmer is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. With Preston Manor & Gardens about 3.5 miles south-west, Falmer sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For landlords with property near Falmer station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Falmer is about 3 miles north-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. If you are in Falmer, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Brighton and Hove coverage includes Falmer.
Surveys in BN1 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Middle Street, Park Street and Mill Street or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Falmer, we cover Kingston near Lewes (2 miles east), Iford (3 miles east), Ovingdean (3 miles south), Rottingdean (3 miles south) and Roedean (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Brighton (3 miles south-west), Brighton and Hove (5 miles west), Hove (5 miles south-west), Carlton Hill (4 miles south-west), Hanover (3 miles south-west) and West Hill (4 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Falmer
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Swan Inn, University of Sussex Library and Stanmer Park. There is a railway station in Falmer itself: Falmer station. Other landmarks nearby include Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (under half a mile south-west) and Lewes Castle (3.8 miles east). The countryside around Falmer includes Bevendean Down and Newmarket Hill.
How the survey works
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around Falmer can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Towns and villages near Falmer
What else we do in Falmer
Leave it or get it looked at?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit on any day of the week, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In a small place like Falmer, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why us?
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Common questions in Falmer
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Falmer, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Falmer is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Falmer?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
What’s the best way to book?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What we are asked to look at in Falmer
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We do not test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Lawrence, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- What they will not be able to tell you
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- 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
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.