Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hare Street, Essex
Wondering about the roof at a property in Hare Street? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hare Street and across Essex.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hare Street
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 adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are damp timbers or stains in the loft and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Some older homes in villages like Hare Street 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. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Hare Street (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hare Street: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
With Hill Hall about 3 miles west, the area around Hare Street has a long history. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. Take an older house close to Church of St Margaret of Antioch: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Hare Street is about 5 miles north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. We cover Hare Street and the rest of Essex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Essex coverage includes Hare Street and the places around it. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CM5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Little End (1 mile north-east), Stanford Rivers (1 mile north), Clatterford End (1 mile north-west), Marden Ash (2 miles north-east) and Navestock Heath (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (12 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Harlow (8 miles north-west), Brentwood (5 miles south-east), Billericay (9 miles east) and Loughton (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hare Street
Around Hare Street, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Woodman Public House and the streets around them. A little further out are St. Margaret's Hospital (4.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Gernon Bushes.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Checking the roof from the ground
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Towns and villages near Hare Street
More services for Hare Street
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Hare Street
Will you come out to Hare Street?
Yes, Hare Street is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Do you cover Hare Street?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Hare Street is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hare Street
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Roof area
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Anything about access we should know
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Useful tips for Hare Street property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Hare Street, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.