Greater London · London and the South East
Forest Gate Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Forest Gate and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Forest Gate
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are standing water on a flat extension roof and old water stains in the roof space.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Forest Gate might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Forest Gate (E7, E15, E11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Any roof job in Forest Gate means planning around parking, neighbours and access. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Forest Gate
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
Nearby places to Forest Gate
Other services in Forest Gate
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Forest Gate and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Forest Gate
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Forest Gate?
Sometimes, yes. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Forest Gate?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Forest Gate in your area?
Yes, we do. Forest Gate is part of the area we cover, and the service is the same as everywhere else we work.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
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.
What’s the best way to book?
It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Buying a home or a new roof in Forest Gate
Valentines Mansion, about 2.2 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Forest Gate. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Forest Gate is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London City Airport. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the exact boundary for the address before flying.
Forest Gate is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when booking. Landlords with a home close to Wanstead Park station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Forest Gate is about 6 miles north-east of London, in Greater London. Forest Gate gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in E7, E15 and E11 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Elm Road, Ash Road and Cary Road. Forest Gate sits on or near the A114 and A116, which makes travel easy. If you are just outside Forest Gate, we cover Upton (1 mile south), Aldersbrook (1 mile north), Holloway Down (1 mile west), Plashet (1 mile south-east) and Little Ilford (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include London (6 miles south-west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Local landmarks in Forest Gate
Around Forest Gate, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Tyndale Academy, Forest Gate Community School and The Hudson Bay pub. There’s a railway station in Forest Gate itself: Wanstead Park station. Nearby you’ll also find Stratford Centre (1.3 miles south-west) and Passmore Edwards Museum (0.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Forest Gate includes Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Common roof problems in Forest Gate
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. 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. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Common reasons to book include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Take an older house close to A Radical Church: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Their insurance cover
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Forest Gate
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- What made you get in touch
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Anything about access we should know
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.