West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Five Oaks
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Five Oaks.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
What we can’t see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Five Oaks
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. We’re frequently asked to look into blistered or split felt on a flat roof and flashings that have lifted or split, on clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and gutters and downpipes.
Older buildings in small places like Five Oaks 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. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Five Oaks (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Let us know your timetable
- Book once your offer is accepted
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Five Oaks
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
Leave it or get it looked at?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. Outbuildings and barns around Five Oaks are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Five Oaks
- Package prices that include VAT
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 98% customer satisfaction
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Getting in touch
We’ll normally ask about:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- When you need the report by
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Five Oaks questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Five Oaks?
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.
Is Five Oaks within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
Towns and villages near Five Oaks
Also in Five Oaks
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. The survey 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. Older rural homes like those around Five Oaks can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Five Oaks
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
For any home in Five Oaks, it’s the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right. For landlords with property near Billingshurst station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Five Oaks is about 5 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Five Oaks and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
We survey roofs across the RH14 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Horsham Road, Hayes Wood Road and Stane Street and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Five Oaks: The Haven (1 mile north-west), Billingshurst (2 miles south-west), Slinfold (2 miles north-east), Newpound Common (3 miles west) and Coneyhurst (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (5 miles east), Worthing (15 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (15 miles south-east) and Broadfield (10 miles east).
What’s near Five Oaks
The closest station to Five Oaks is Billingshurst station, about 2.2 miles south. A little further out are Christs Hospital School Museum (3.1 miles east) and Horsham Hospital (5 miles east).