East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hamsey, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hamsey from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hamsey: what you get
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey the roof space, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and old water stains in the roof space.
Older buildings in small places like Hamsey may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
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.
- Where
- Hamsey (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Hamsey questions
Is Hamsey within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How do I find out if my home in Hamsey is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
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.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Hamsey. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Also in Hamsey
Why it’s worth a survey now in Hamsey
Lots of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- PI and public liability insurance
The survey, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Around Hamsey, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. 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 roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Hamsey
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. With Anne of Cleves House about 1.9 miles south, Hamsey sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Peter: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Hamsey is about 1 mile north of Lewes, in East Sussex. Surveys in Hamsey work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our East Sussex coverage includes Hamsey. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in BN8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Offham (1 mile south-west), South Malling (1 mile south), Lewes (1 mile south), Cliffe (2 miles south) and Southover (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (9 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (13 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (7 miles south).
Landmarks near Hamsey
Typical jobs here are in homes near Railway Land, Priory School and The Blacksmiths Arms. The closest station to Hamsey is Cooksbridge station, about 0.8 miles north-west. A little further out are Lewes Castle (1.6 miles south) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (1.5 miles south). For a walk, there’s Malling Down and Offham Hill.
Common roof problems in Hamsey
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It is frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
We are often asked to look at:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For landlords with property near Cooksbridge station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A structural engineer’s report
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.