West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Fishbourne, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Fishbourne. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Fishbourne
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey the roof space, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks, and people most frequently book us about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
Houses in smaller places like Fishbourne can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. Whether you’re buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a proper look. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Fishbourne (PO19, PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Fishbourne
Is drone flying allowed in Fishbourne?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Fishbourne is about 3 miles from Goodwood Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Fishbourne, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it typically takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Towns and villages near Fishbourne
Other services in Fishbourne
Local roofs and buyers in Fishbourne
Fishbourne is within about 3 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, so exposed details get a proper look whether you are buying or signing off new work. Goodwood House, about 3.9 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fishbourne. Older homes in the wider area frequently 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 Fishbourne station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Fishbourne is about 1 mile west of Chichester, in West Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Fishbourne. Across West Sussex, we cover Fishbourne. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in PO19 and PO18 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Creek End, Palatine Gardens and Claver Gardens or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Apuldram (1 mile south), Broadbridge (2 miles west), Bosham (2 miles west), East Ashling (2 miles north-west) and Bosham Hoe (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (6 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles west), Rustington (13 miles east) and Angmering (15 miles east).
Near you in Fishbourne
Around Fishbourne, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Central C of E Junior School and Bishop Luffa School. There is a railway station in Fishbourne itself: Fishbourne station. Nearby you will also find Chichester Castle (1.6 miles east) and St Richard's Hospital (1.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Homes around Fishbourne often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fishbourne
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Fishbourne
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
Checking the roof from the ground
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
What we’re asked to look at in Fishbourne
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
The streets around a church like Church of St Peter and St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
What to check before booking
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What experience they bring