Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Great Offley
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Great Offley, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Great Offley
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. We survey clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are blocked or leaking gutters and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
Some older homes in villages like Great Offley are listed or sit 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’s worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Great Offley (SG5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Great Offley
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Great Offley
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Great Offley. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens on the day
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. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around Great Offley, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Places near Great Offley
What else we do in Great Offley
Local roofs and buyers in Great Offley
The flight restriction zone around Luton Airport comes within about 2 miles of Great Offley. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the exact boundary for the address before flying. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so check with the council.
For landlords with property near Hitchin station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary Magdalene: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Great Offley is about 3 miles south-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Whether the building in Great Offley is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Great Offley is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: SG5. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on High Street, Garden Fields and John Hall Court or a nearby road, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in The Flints (1 mile west), Temple End (2 miles east), Ley Green (2 miles south-east) and Pegsdon (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (7 miles east), St Albans (12 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south-east), Harpenden (8 miles south) and Hitchin (3 miles north-east).
What’s near Great Offley
We work in homes and buildings around The Bull Public House. The nearest railway station is Hitchin station, roughly 3.7 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Ravensburgh Castle (3.1 miles north-west) and Keech Hospice Care (4.2 miles west). Open spaces near Great Offley include Pegsdon Hills and Markham's Hill.
Questions from Great Offley
Is my home in Great Offley listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are there drone restrictions around Great Offley?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Great Offley is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Luton Airport. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey at the weekend?
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 booking.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
How do I book a survey in Great Offley?
To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You will know the price for the job before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.