Greater London · London and the South East
Hatch End Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Hatch End. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Why get it checked now?
Lots of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. In Hatch End, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Hatch End
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- PI and public liability insurance
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hatch End
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you are worried about cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and standing water on a flat extension roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on gutters and downpipes, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Hatch End 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. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Hatch End (HA5, HA2, HA3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Hatch End
More services for Hatch End
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Hatch End?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Look out for signs like these:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Hatch End, along with any off-street space.
Before you book anyone
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Practical tips
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or 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.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
DIY checks: what’s safe
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 ground level.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Common questions in Hatch End
How do I find out if my home in Hatch End is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is drone flying allowed in Hatch End?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can you survey a shared roof?
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 can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hatch End
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Hatch End homes and their roofs
Historic houses such as Headstone Manor, about 1 mile south-east, show how far back building in the area around Hatch End goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For landlords with property near Hatch End station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. If you live in an older home near Pinner Baptist Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Hatch End is about 4 miles south of Watford, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Hatch End, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Hatch End is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. There’s also a page for London.
Surveys in HA5, HA2 and HA3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on Love Lane, Moss Lane and Tudor Road and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Headstone (1 mile east), South Oxhey (2 miles north-west), Harrow Weald (2 miles east), Carpenders Park (2 miles north) and Belmont (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (14 miles south-east), City of Westminster (11 miles south-east), Marylebone (11 miles south-east), Kensington (10 miles south-east), St Pancras (12 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (14 miles east).
Local landmarks in Hatch End
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Moon & Sixpence pub, Nower Hill High School and Headstone Manor Recreation Ground and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Hatch End station, roughly 0.6 miles north. A little further out are Heath Robinson Museum (0.8 miles south-west) and Hilfield Castle (4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Harrow Weald Common and Northala Fields.
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is frequently from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Hatch End runs like any other.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.