Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Hertford Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Wondering about the roof at a property in Hertford? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hertford and across Hertfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
What we can’t see
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hertford
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s frequently not the individual flat owner. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We’re frequently asked to look into lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, on clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and gutters and downpipes.
A good many homes in a town like Hertford have been extended over the years, often with flat roofs. The joints where a new roof meets an old wall or slope are a common source of leaks. On a purchase or a newly finished roof in Hertford, those junctions are high on the list.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Hertford (SG14, SG13)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. 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.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
Local roofs and buyers in Hertford
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near Hertford United Reform Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Hertford is about 9 miles south-east of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Hertford is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Hertford and the places around it. We also survey roofs in London.
We survey roofs across the SG14 and SG13 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets like Salisbury Square, Market Street and Parliament Square, all of which we cover. You will find Hertford on the A10 and A119, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Hertford: Horns Mill (1 mile south), Foxholes (1 mile east), Rush Green (2 miles east), Hertford Heath (2 miles south-east) and Little Amwell (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (9 miles north-west), St Albans (11 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (11 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles west), Harpenden (12 miles west) and Hitchin (13 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Hertford
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Old Barge pub and Richard Hale School. Hertford has its own railway station: Hertford East station. Well-known places in the area include Hertford County Hospital (under half a mile south-west) and Mcmullen & Sons Brewery Museum (within half a mile south-west). Not far away are Willowmead.
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Most visits in a town like Hertford start at the front of the house and work round to the back. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen, so unlocked gates help. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- 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 inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hertford
Landlords, agents and building managers in Hertford and across Hertfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Places near Hertford
What else we do in Hertford
When to book a survey in Hertford
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which matters if work is needed.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Landlords with a home close to Hertford East station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Hertford questions
Is Hertford in the area you cover?
Yes, Hertford is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Hertford listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.