Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Harefield, Southampton
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Harefield. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Harefield
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We are frequently asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and flashings that have lifted or split, on the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Harefield, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you are buying in Harefield or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Harefield (SO18, SO19, SO30)
- Region
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Buying a home or a new roof in Harefield
Harefield is within about 3 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, so exposed details get a proper look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. 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. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you let a flat or house near Bitterne station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. South Stoneham House lies about 1.9 miles north-west, so building around Harefield goes back a long way. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Harefield is about 2 miles east of Southampton, in Southampton. If you’re in Harefield, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Harefield is one of the places in Southampton where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Every address in SO18, SO19 and SO30 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Dean Road, Marne Road and Keats Road and the roads around them. Harefield sits on or near the A334, which makes travel easy. We also cover Thornhill (1 mile south), West End (1 mile north), Chartwell Green (1 mile north), Bitterne (1 mile south-west) and Townhill Park (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Shirley (4 miles west), Regents Park (4 miles west), Maybush (5 miles west), Coxford (4 miles west), Freemantle (4 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). Harefield is one of the larger places we cover in Southampton.
Landmarks near Harefield
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Gregg School, Woodlands Community College and The Red Lion pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bitterne station, about 1.5 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Moorgreen Hospital (1.1 miles north-east) and Netley Castle (3 miles south). Open spaces near Harefield include Netley Common.
Harefield: your questions answered
Will you come out to Harefield?
Yes, Harefield is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Harefield?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Harefield is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Harefield?
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St James, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a smaller place like Harefield, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
For landlords and managing agents
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Harefield and across Southampton can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Nearby places to Harefield
Other services in Harefield
Why it is worth a survey now in Harefield
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. Arranging work in a smaller place like Harefield is easier with notice than in an emergency. A survey gives you that notice.
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why us?
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys seven days a week
- Prices that include VAT
- 98% of clients satisfied
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.