Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hethe, Oxfordshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Hethe, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hethe
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. Typical surveys look at damp timbers or stains in the loft and slipped or missing slates and tiles, across gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and the roof space.
In a village or hamlet like Hethe, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
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 decide what to do next.
- Place
- Hethe (OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere as small as Hethe, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we look at each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Hethe
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Roof area
- Height and safe access
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hethe
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Hethe
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
If you let a flat or house near Bicester North station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
What to check before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How soon the report will arrive
Local roofs and buyers in Hethe
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Edmund and George, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Hethe is about 4 miles north of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. If you are in Hethe, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Hethe. Oxford is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in OX27 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Main Street and Hardwick Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Hethe, we cover Fringford (1 mile south-east), Hardwick (1 mile west), Stoke Lyne (2 miles south-west), Stratton Audley (2 miles south-east) and Caversfield (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (11 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south), Kidlington (12 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles south) and Bure Park (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Hethe
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Whitmore Arms Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bicester North station, roughly 4 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Bicester Community Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Beaumont Castle (3 miles north).
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
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, and we can’t promise any result.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Hethe
How do I find out if my home in Hethe is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Hethe within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Hethe?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on any day of the week.