Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Hollingbury Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Hollingbury. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hollingbury
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. We survey seven days a week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We are often asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on the roof space, gutters and downpipes and natural slate.
Smaller places like Hollingbury often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you’re buying in Hollingbury or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Place
- Hollingbury (BN1)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Hollingbury
Hollingbury lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
For landlords with property near Moulsecoomb station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Preston Manor & Gardens lies about 1.4 miles south-west, so building around Hollingbury goes back a long way. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Hollingbury is about 2 miles north of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Roofs in Hollingbury get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Brighton and Hove. Our Brighton and Hove coverage includes Hollingbury.
We work across the BN1 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Keymer Road, Warmdene Road and Carden Avenue or a nearby road, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Patcham (1 mile west), Withdean (1 mile south-west), Hollingdean (1 mile south), Preston (1 mile south-west) and Westdene (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Brighton and Hove (3 miles south-west), Hove (3 miles south-west), Brunswick (3 miles south), Kemptown (3 miles south), Whitehawk (3 miles south-east) and Aldrington (3 miles south-west).
What’s near Hollingbury
In Hollingbury, that means homes and buildings near University of Sussex Library, Patcham High School and Wild Park, among other places. Nearby too are The Dharma Primary School (0.5 miles north-west) and County Oak pub (under half a mile north-east). The closest station to Hollingbury is Moulsecoomb station, roughly 1.1 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Brighton General Hospital (2.1 miles south) and Churchill Square (2.6 miles south). The countryside around Hollingbury includes Ladies Mile and Ditchling Beacon.
Why act early in Hollingbury
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. In an older home around Hollingbury, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What you get with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- PI and public liability insurance
What we can’t see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Also near Hollingbury
What else we do in Hollingbury
Useful tips for Hollingbury property owners
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Common questions in Hollingbury
Do you cover smaller places like Hollingbury?
Yes, Hollingbury is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hollingbury?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
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’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Parking around Hollingbury is normally easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.