Southampton · London and the South East
Freemantle Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Freemantle and across Southampton, with plain-English findings.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Flashings that have lifted or split
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Freemantle
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey gutters and downpipes, natural slate and chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are old water stains in the roof space and chimney mortar that has eroded.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Freemantle, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Freemantle. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Freemantle (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- Region
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A structural engineer’s report
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Freemantle is booked with the forecast in mind: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Freemantle, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Nearby places to Freemantle
Also in Freemantle
What affects the price in Freemantle
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Questions from Freemantle
How do I find out if my home in Freemantle is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is the coastal weather around Freemantle hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Why get it checked now?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. Homes in smaller places like Freemantle can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- PI and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Local roofs and buyers in Freemantle
Freemantle is within about 1 mile of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Southampton Tudor House and Garden lies about 1.2 miles south-east, so building around Freemantle goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. For landlords with property near Millbrook (Hants) station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Christ Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Freemantle is about 1 mile west of Southampton, in Southampton. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Freemantle. Across Southampton, we cover Freemantle.
We cover every part of the SO15, SO16 and SO17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on May Road, Park Road and Pitt Road and the roads around them. With the A33 close by, Freemantle is easy for us to reach. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Shirley (1 mile north), Regents Park (1 mile north-west), Millbrook (1 mile west), Maybush (2 miles north-west) and Coxford (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Townhill Park (3 miles north-east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles east).
Local landmarks in Freemantle
Typical jobs here are in homes near St Anne's Catholic School, Blechynden Terrace Park and The Brass Monkey pub and the streets around them. Freemantle has its own railway station: Millbrook (Hants) station. Other landmarks nearby include Western Community Hospital (1.3 miles north-west) and Foresters Museum & Archive (within half a mile east). For a walk, there is Testwood Lakes.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.