Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Harrow, Greater London
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Harrow and across Greater London.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Harrow
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. If you are worried about quick fixes on flashings and valleys and old water stains in the roof space, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Harrow might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Harrow (HA2, HA1, UB5, HA3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In Harrow, as across London, an overflowing gutter soaks the wall below, which can lead to damp inside. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
What you get with us
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- PI and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- A photo-illustrated written report
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we can’t promise any result.
Do not 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.
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Surveys in Harrow can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Related advice
FAQs for Harrow
Are there drone restrictions around Harrow?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Harrow?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Harrow
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The wider area around Harrow has a long history of building, with Headstone Manor about 1.4 miles north. 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.
For landlords with property near Harrow-on-the-Hill station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Parking in Harrow, as in most of London, takes a little planning: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway as you book. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Harrow is about 7 miles south of Watford, in Greater London. Harrow is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our Greater London coverage includes Harrow and the places around it. London is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in HA2, HA1, UB5 and HA3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on High Street, London Road and Perceval Square. You’ll find Harrow on the B457 and B458, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover Roxeth (1 mile south), South Harrow (1 mile south), North Harrow (1 mile north-west), Harrow on the Hill (1 mile south-east) and Rayners Lane (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover London (12 miles south-east), City of Westminster (9 miles south-east), Marylebone (10 miles south-east), Kensington (8 miles south-east), St Pancras (11 miles east) and Shoreditch (12 miles east).
Around Harrow
In Harrow, that means homes and buildings near Kingsfield Arms, Grange Primary School and Northwick Park and the streets around them. Harrow’s nearest station is Harrow-on-the-Hill station, roughly 0.7 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are St. George's Shopping Centre (0.7 miles north-east) and Clementine Churchill Hospital (1 mile south-east). Not far away are Islip Manor Meadows and Northala Fields.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Harrow
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate